Posted on April 03rd, 2017 | Edited on August 26th, 2018

| . . . C H A P T E R - 2.4 : U N D E R - T H E - I M P R E S S I O N . . . |

AR Fashion House.

I stood outside the building where I was supposed to join next week. I made Armaan bring me here so I could see where the location was, how far it was from his penthouse which would now be mine and Riddhima's as well.

I was about to walk past the reception after walking inside when a female stopped me. "Excuse me, where do you think you're going?" I turned to the girl who couldn't be a year or two older than me in a knee-length, mustard yellow halter dress. Against her almond colored skin, the color popped. It looked horrendous. Cringe-worthy.

I answered politely, "I was just looking."

"Sorry, darlin'. This isn't a garden where you can stroll about. Unless you have a reason to be here, I suggest you leave."

I was in no mood to deal with such people, cranky from lack of a full night sleep - as was often the case with me. "Look, whoever you are, there's no reason to be rude."

"What's going on here?" I turned to another female dressed in a blue button up top and black skirt to go with it along with a fairly decent inch heel. The statement necklace and matching earrings completed the look with her hair pulled back in a crisp ponytail. Now she was dressed to be in a professional setting compared to this other girl who looked ready to walk into a club.

"Nothing, ma'am. Random people."

She ignored me for the time being while asking her subordinate - I imagine she was given she had been called ma'am. "Where's the file I asked for?"

"It'll be ready in an hour." The first girl replied warily.

"You have half hour."

She scurried away to get the job done. I had to say... I was a bit impressed. Her eyes turned to me and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had seen her before somewhere though I don't understand how that could be as it was just my second day in Mumbai.

"Could I help you with something?"

"Oh, no." I answered, "I'm joining next week as an intern and I just wanted to see where I'd be working."

She nodded firmly and advised, "Don't get in anyone's way then."

I nodded back taking that to be a fair deal. She turned on her heels and walked off to her station.

I took a second to grasp in the grandeur of this office. Furnishing to the par. The interior decorating was quite impressive. It looked classy, as if a page torn out of a design magazine. Not only that, everything was neat and organized as if everything had its place and everyone went about their work day. Not one person sat idle in the long row of cubicles. It looked to be a high-pressure work place.

My eyes followed the stairs to a cabin on the top. I couldn't see anyone inside from down here but I imagined it would be the owner's cabin for who else would have their own room? There had to be other floors given the elevators but I couldn't wander in there.

I just needed to come here and convince myself it was a real place given the shady nature associated with being accepted to work here. I knew nothing about where I was going to be working. I figured I should do some research tonight.

Satisfied that it was more than a decent place compared to my imagination, I made my exit.

I took my time walking down the stairs when I noticed the scene in the distance where the car was parked. Armaan was standing in front of Riddhima in close proximity while she was leaning back against the car door. His hand was on her cheek blowing into her eyes. She tried to rub them and he swatted it off in a scolding.

I couldn't help the smile on my lips.

He wiped the water that had ran down the side of her eye which seemed to have gotten something stuck. She blinked to clear her vision and locked with his.

Oh, these two.

They need to get together already.

They are the only reason I somewhere still believe in love. Let's just say... I'll be living vicariously through them for surely, I was never going to have such a moment in my life where someone would look at me so dearly the way Armaan looked at Riddhima.

Nearing then, I cleared my throat to mark my presence.

Armaan, startled, stepped back and tripped over the smallest of the rock under his shoe. I bit back a laugh as he balanced himself, tried not to look embarrassed, and commented. "That was quick."

Giving him a knowing smirk, I said, "I just needed to make sure it was real. Ready to go or does Riddhima have something in her other eye?"

He returned a scolding glare for teasing him before answering, "Actually, mom called."

"Okay?" I questioned the hesitancy in his tone.

"Arnav and his sister live in Mumbai. She wants us to visit them, you know, since you two are engaged and his sister apparently insisted we go to dinner to make you feel welcome in Mumbai."

I felt the need to question, "Is she really that kind or just keeping up fake formalities?"

Riddhima scolded this time, "Khushi."

I defended, "What? She's Arnav's sister. Can you blame me? They're both cut from the same cloth, so to say."

She shook her head at me in disappointment, "Would you call Kripa fake too?"

"No! But that's different."

"You've really got to stop judging people so harshly. You've barely had a word with her."

That may be. I did not know her at all. And Kripa has talked fondly about Anjali in her stories she'd often share. I shouldn't let my equation with Arnav be the reason I didn't give his sister a fair chance.

I sighed calling for peace, "Okay, okay. It was uncalled for. I guess we'll be going for dinner."

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

As Armaan pulled up in the driveway in front of the address he'd written down given my mom, I questioned. "You sure this is it?"

The house was huge. Three stories huge and the driveway itself could fit 4-6 cars. There was a garden in the front and no doubt, an opening in the back as well. It must have lots of rooms. I would almost call it a villa instead of a house. I did recall that summer house of his but even that was nothing compared to this.

"We'll find out," Armaan answered as he unbuckled. Riddhima and I followed before we walked to the right of the driveway towards the front of the house and Armaan rang the doorbell.

We waited a couple of minutes before Armaan proceeded to ring it again but just then it opened. It was a servant. In the distance, we heard a female's voice. "Who is it, HP?"

Hah. HP. Harry Porter. I needed to stop rewatching Harry Potter and Once Upon a Time so many times. It is not healthy for me to be overly-associating my life with fiction.

A second later, she appeared from around the corner and said our names while continuing to reach us, "Khushi. Armaan. Riddhima. Good, you're here. Come in! I was afraid you might not find the way." She surprised Riddhima and I with a quick hug.

O-kay then.

She turned to this HP servant briefly while waving us in, "Could you call chote and let him know they're here?"

He nodded and left.

She explained to us, "He's just running a bit late due to some pending work. He should be home shortly."

Armaan answered for all of us, "Not a problem."

We sat in the living room and awkwardly waited. HP had offered us water. I was curious to ask what HP stood for but I figured it would be inappropriate. Maybe he didn't like his name and shortened it to HP.

She tried to start a conversation, "So, uh... how do you find Mumbai?"

Riddhima said, "We just got here yesterday."

"Right," Anjali replied and that topic ended there.

Lucky for us, the doorbell rang again.

"That must be chote." She immediately stood up to get the door herself. Even she must have felt how awkward this all was. We didn't know her that well, after all. I wished Kripa were here right now.

She whispered something to him and his eyes traveled up to his, locking with mine for a second longer before he nodded at her with a smile and asked her, "Di, I'm starving. Is dinner ready?"

"Yeah. I'll get the table set. Go freshen up?"

He nodded and left again, greeting us on the way - well, more like Armaan and Riddhima - and saying he'd be right back, went up the stairs, taking two at a time. Anjali excused herself to supervise the servants from bringing the food from the kitchen.

They had servants.

Yes, I'm being slow right now in grasping everything. There's too much around.

I whispered to them, "Okay, someone needs to start talking and it's not going to be me."

Riddhima pulled her out, "Don't look at me."

Armaan exclaimed next, "What was I supposed to talk with her about? I'm not the girl here!"

I rolled my eyes for shame on him. "Some extrovert you are. How have you managed to become a celebrity?"

They are supposed to carry a conversation with just about anyone and make the other person feel comfortable. Even if not a celebrity, he was the biggest extrovert in the three of us.

Arnav returned downstairs, rather quickly I would say. He sat at the head of the rectangular dining table with Anjali and me on one side while Riddhima and Armaan on the other.

As if noticing an absence, Arnav paused to ask. "Where's Aarav?"

While serving our plates, Anjali informed. "Ah, Lavanya came by and picked him up already."

There is that name again.

"Wasn't he staying the night here?"

"Changed his mind. You know him. As unpredictable as you."

He grumbled like a small child, "I'm not unpredictable."

Anjali laughed in response and nodded at us to dig in.

Armaan asked the question for us, "Uh, who's Aarav?"

The siblings shared a look before Anjali asked, "You don't know?"

The answer was written on all our confused expressions.

Arnav further questioned, "Your parents didn't tell you?"

"Tell us what?" I asked - well, demanded.

There was never a simple answer with him! I can't be blamed for always losing my patience. Instead of asking us these follow up questions, all that needed to be done was a response that answered the question.

Arnav seemed hesitant to answer and Anjali took over, "Oh... um, we were under the impression they'd have told you. Aarav is..."

Arnav interrupted, speaking over her having lost his hesitancies by now, "Aarav is my 7-year-old son."

Say what now? I could only stare at him, waiting for him to call it a prank. But, looking from him to Anjali and back at him, I understood it was no joke.

He wasn't kidding.

I didn't have to look at Riddhima or Armaan to know their expressions must closely resemble mines.

He had a kid?

He had a kid.

He had a kid!

The news hit me hard. I felt the need to get away but I was forced to remain seated. More than that... 7 years. 7 freaking years! He was around during college, 4 or 5 years old then. Arnav never mentioned it then. He really hid his personal life well. He never told me... but why would he? Did he ever trust me? Share anything personal about him? I didn't count the shelter. While he was heavily invested, I wouldn't count in personal - not when I didn't know why he opened a shelter.

I trusted him again and again. I shared so much with him and he never once returned the favor. He never trusted me back.

But did you even try to earn his trust?

My subconscious nagged. But, all my secrets that I did share with him... surely it had to mean that if I trusted him, he could trust me too. Right?

There was fear in her voice and eyes as Anjali asked, "Please... say something?" More than Arnav himself, she looked worried.

"It's..."

"A big..."

"Why wouldn't mom tell me?"

The three of us spoke over each other once asked to react, lost on how exactly to react. What would be a proper reaction, after all? There was none.

She seemed sincere in her apology, "I'm really sorry you're finding out this way. I'm sure this is a shocking news... Your parents knew the first time we met."

It seemed obvious they had no intention of hiding it in these past two years. But it still bothered me that he wasn't the one to tell me before all of this, before we had a falling out. Mom must have intentionally chosen to not tell me until I had to know. Maybe she didn't want to be the one to tell me though I wish she had.

Arnav's eyes seemed glued only on me. Eventually, I nodded. "So... Aarav. He... he lives with you or..."

I was asking him directly and he knew that, for he answered. "With Lavanya. He stays here in the afternoon when he returns from school since we both have work."

Lavanya. Ofcourse, she was the mother. It now made sense why she'd stick around. I suppose Kripa was right and he did lie to me. He and Lavanya were not just best friends.

One word was all I replied with. "Okay."

What else was I to say? Did I even have the right to be mad at him? Hurt?

He asked, "Okay?" expecting me to have a different reaction.

No. I wasn't going to give him that... let him know just how much it was eating away at me.

"Okay." I simply repeated.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

| . . . A U T H O R - N O T E . . . |

Since 2.4 was a short chapter, I'm adding 2.4.5 (not included in old plot) in same post. Read on!

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Posted on August 30th, 2018

| . . . C H A P T E R - 2.4.5 : C H O I C E S - P A R T 1 . . . |

[Anjali's POV]

I looked out the window on my room on hearing a car coming to a gradual stop in the driveway. I had been waiting for the past three hours for them to return from Australia. By the time I reached the stairs to walk down, Arnav was walking in through the front door with the driver following with his luggage.

He instructed, "Just leave it there, Ramu. Thanks."

Ramu nodded and bringing the luggage in a corner, he left. I crossed the distance into the living room. "You're back."

He smiled at me, giving me a quick hug before dropping his body on the couch. "You're still up."

I gave a knowing look, walking towards the kitchen to get him water. "I was worried. You were supposed to be here 3 hours ago."

He replied just loud enough for me to hear, "Yeah, sorry about that. Our flight was a little delayed."

As I walked back with a glass of chilled water, I asked with slight disappointment. "Where's Aarav and Lavanya?"

Taking the glass with a smile of quick gratitude, he informed. "He was tired and wanted to sleep in his own bed so I had to drop them off. You know how he can get."

I nodded, taking a seat beside him with a forced smile. I couldn't conceal my disappointment because I had been looking forward to seeing Aarav after so many months. It might have been the longest I had gone without seeing him. I missed him. He is, after all, my son... even if I couldn't accept that in front of the world.

Arnav understood that, for he draped his arm around my shoulder and gave it a little squeeze to share my feelings. "I'm sorry, di. I know you were looking forward to seeing him."

"I know," I answered trying to cheer myself up. I could not get this affected. I knew what would eventually happen as years went by. "I guess I'll have to start getting used to this, huh?"

"Oh, di." He gave me a hug, sympathizing. I blinked furiously to fight back my tears and try to put on my brave face. Parting, he added hoping to provide some assurance, "How about tomorrow before work, you come with me and I can drop you there? You can spend the whole day with him. I know he'd very much like that too."

A smile instantly appeared on my face at the idea, already looking forward to tomorrow. I nodded in response, "I'd love that."

He returned my smile. I knew. He was such a loving brother. He'd do anything to put a smile on my face. I didn't go long being sad because he'd always appear out of nowhere to beat my blue moods, as if with some sixth sense, he knew when I wasn't feeling well.

He then pecked my temple and started to make his exit, "Alright, I'm a little beat too. I think I'll go shower and..."

Just as he stood up though, I held his hand and nudged him to sit again, "Wait, chote."

"What is it, di? Everything okay?" He asked at once getting concerned something could have happened in his absence.

I nodded at him to sit, "Just sit for a second. Something I need to talk to you about."

"Okay..." he said returning to his spot and facing me attentively.

Glancing at the silver band of engagement ring on his finger, I asked. "Chote, have you thought any more about what I said? About telling Khushi?"

His shoulders tensed up at the mention of her, understanding what I was talking about. A sad look crossed over his face as it often did whenever she was brought up. He loves her so much. I wish he would just tell her and put himself out of this misery he has taken up for himself. Blaming himself for everything. I wish he would understand that the weight of the entire world does not rest on his delicate shoulders.

I could feel him pulling away emotionally with the very first word, "Di, let's not talk about this anymore, okay? We'll just end up arguing and I don't want that."

Though he wanted to dismiss it, I remained persistent. "Then don't argue, chote. Just listen. You have kept so many things from her. You have to agree that she has a right to know."

He pulled his hand out of mine, stubborn as always. "And you know I can't tell her anything without giving away how I know everything."

"Then what's the harm? Do it!" I just wanted him to feel that ounce of happiness he once felt a few years ago.

He shook his head, closing his eyes as if debating what to say next. Looking back at me, he expressed in a quiet voice. "No, di. You say it but you are not ready to face the consequences. I know you are doing your best to put on a brave face, but you forget. I'm your brother. No one knows you better and that is why I know - once it's out in the open, you will be most hurt. I will be damned if I let that happen."

I sighed, stuck in a life-long battle where I can't decide. On one side, I feel touched at what he always tries to protect me from and on the other end, as his sister, I just want him to have that love and happiness in his life and that can't happen till he isn't clear with Khushi about everything that is between them. Everything she is unaware of.

My eyes moistened as I turned my hand to reach his and squeeze it. I inhaled shakily, finding my voice again before looking at him and advising as a true sister should. "Chote, I don't know how you always manage to put us above everything in life. Once in past, when it was Aarav and me against her, you picked us. Now, please, pick her. You say that no matter the choices, you will always choose to protect your family, but tell me; is she not a part of that family too? She is your fiancé."

He sniffed, glancing at me only when I said the last word. The whole time, he refused to meet my eyes. He knew too how tough it was for him to pick when our uncle threatened to take away Aarav if we didn't give him what he wanted. He concluded the reality, holding on to the last of his voice least it break. "She may be my fiancé, but I am not hers."

I exclaimed, desperately trying to reach him. "Because you won't show her what she means to you! You've told me. You've told Lavanya. Kripa. But have you, just once, said it to her? No, Arnav. Your default is to put up these walls around your heart. You know everything about her but you won't tell her anything about you. Then can you blame her for not staying? You say you love her, chote, then you have to be ready to be vulnerable around her. You have to put aside all the secrets... else the amount of secrets you have between you two, you will never be able to cross this distance."

Clenching his jaw to not cry, he sternly shook his head, refusing to just let his fears loose. He allowed them to take such deep roots inside of him that the road back must feel impossible for him, but the road to possibility can only be with one step after the another. If he won't even give it a try, how can he hope for a different result?

Sighing, I lifted my hand to his jaw, forcing him to look at me. The heaviness in his eyes flowed out in the form of a lone tear. "Chote, please. Do this for my sake, if nothing else. Just tell her everything you have been holding back. All the secrets and trust that when you do, she will understand. Don't hold back on my account. I can't take it anymore that my little brother is suffering because of my past."

He poured out his fears finally, "I can't. What if... what if she doesn't understand? If I tell her if I left her all those years ago to die... She's never going to forgive me, di."

I countered, hushing him. "Shh. Arnav, you can't think that way, okay? You didn't leave her to die. You took her to the hospital. You called Armaan and left only after he got there. She'll understand that. She'll understand why you didn't stay."

Looking into my eyes with such vulnerability, he asked. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I would understand." I answered simply. He was really letting the fears get the worst of him and that was sooner rather than later going to destroy him. He needed to stop. "Atleast give her the benefit of the doubt, Arnav. The same thing you seek from her, give her that."

He remained silent then, as if deep in thought. I really hope he will truly consider my words this time and come to a different conclusion.

Reaching to wipe away his wet cheek, I advised. "Chote, love is simple. We make it complicated, unnecessarily, by feeding these silly fears. In my darkest times, you once told me that I needed to fight my fears else they'd take over my life and leave me with nothing meaningful. Now, listen to your own advice.

He whispered, "I don't want to loose her."

I broke the reality to him gently, "You are losing her, Chote. You have been losing her little by little every day for the last two and a half years. If you want her back, you have to be different. Break away from your fears. Break your pattern of always picking me over anything else. I may not be as strong as I need to be, but I am not fragile either as I once used to be. I can take care of myself. You have proved to be the elder sibling when it should have been me. You have done everything for me, and beyond. Now do this for yourself."

In all, I was pretty much giving him my blessing to tell Khushi everything. She must be thinking Arnav never trusted her to tell her about Aarav but it was his natural tendency to lie to everyone about him for my sake. And he needed to clear this misunderstanding with her. He needed to tell her that Aarav wasn't his son but mine.

As I said... I may not be strong enough to accept it to the world, but I was not as selfish either to sit by while Arnav loses everything. I have seen him devasted without Khushi. I could not see him ruin himself anymore. Atleast in front of Khushi, I had to be brave enough to accept Aarav and put my trust in her that she would understand why Arnav had to keep it from her.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

| . . . C H A P T E R - 2.4.5 : C H O I C E S - P A R T 2 . . . |

The next morning, instead of going to work, Arnav informed that he was going to go to Shimla. He didn't say anything else, whether or not he would tell Khushi, but it gave me the assurance I needed. He had finally listened.

He dropped me off at Lavanya's apartment and then took a flight to Shimla.

Spending more than half the day with Aarav, I was on cloud nine. He had grown in the last months but that mischievous nature remained. He had me running after him everywhere and if that wasn't enough, he was smart as a whip. I could hardly keep up with all the games we played. Looked like Arnav had taught him to play chess and let's just say, I was terribly losing.

He said, "Check mate," with a wide grin on his face, obviously proud of himself.

I pouted in front of him like a kid myself, "Aarav, not fair. You keep beating me. Go easy on a pour soul."

He laughed, pinching my cheeks. "You're cute, di. But, no. Now I want my reward."

I pulled him to my lap with a satisfied sigh, "What will you do with the chocolates? You can't eat them, remember?"

"I know," he answered joining his hand to mine to see how tiny it was against mine. "But Angel loves them. I'll collect them for her and then give it to her when I see her next."

I chuckled, shaking my head at his adorableness. "Aww, aren't you just the sweetest friend. I'm sure Angel would love that."

"Yeah, but she'll never admit it or say thank you." Then he stood up and held out his palm, demanding. "Now give me my chocolates!"

"Okay, kiddo. You wait here. I will get them." I informed standing up and walking out of the room to fetch them from the fridge.

Just as I turn around the hallway, I catch Lavanya closing the front door but not before I had a glimpse of his face. She turned to face me and instantly turned nervous. "Oh. Hi, di. I didn't hear you coming out."

"Yeah, I just came to grab something from the kitchen. Was that Vivek?" When she didn't answer, I got my confirmation. It may have been years since I had seen her step-brother, but I could recognize him instantly. I asked in concern, "Lavanya, what was he doing here? Does Arnav know? I hope he is not bothering you again for money?"

She crossed the distance between me, directing me towards the sofa to sit. "No, di. I promise. He is not bothering me. And no, Arnav doesn't know. Please don't tell him. You know how he gets."

I repeated, inclined to have doubts. "What was he doing here that you want to hide it from Arnav?"

She looked conflicted before deciding to explain in the hope of convincing me to not tell Arnav. "I don't know... and that's why I am worried. See, one day a couple years back, he just showed up. Yes, he asked for money but that wasn't it. Something was off. Like he was checking up on me to make sure I was okay. It was weird."

I tried to convince her otherwise, "Lavanya, please don't tell me you fell for that. You know how manipulative he can be."

She shook her head in denial, "No, di. I'm telling you. It wasn't because he wanted more money because I had already sent him a check and he had cashed it. He lied. I know him, di. Believe me. He may have changed and fallen in the wrong crowd but I remember him when he was still that sweet brother to me."

"And he knows that, Lavanya. He's probably using that against you."

"Forget it. You don't understand either. Just like Arnav." She answered in a disappointed voice, turning away.

I felt bad as well. Caving, I ended up taking her hand to give her the floor to convince me keeping an open mind. I may not be a fan of Vivek and everything he has troubled Lavanya with but I did consider Lavanya like a sister and I did not want to sound unsupportive. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'll try to understand. Explain it to me."

With hope, she turned to me again. "I know he'll never admit it, but something is wrong. Like he is in some trouble. And I have seen him change in the last two or so years, di. I can just tell, you know? He's stopped drinking, smoking and all that. He doesn't dress poorly like he used to when he didn't care about his life. See, if it was just money he cared for, he'd wait for me to send him the monthly deposit in his account as I have all this time. But, no. Every month on the dot, he comes to visit. And it's not just about taking the check and leaving. He'll ask about me and Aarav, you know? If we are okay."

At the mention of Aarav, I asked in concern, "He asks about Aarav?" I can't help but feel protective.

She smiles softly, "Yeah, but don't worry, di. I haven't let him meet Aarav. He may be my brother but I know better than to blindly trust him. He is no Arnav, after all."

I questioned, unable to understand why she was entertaining his visits, "Then when you know better, why do you enable him to keep visiting?"

She expressed in a defeated stance, "I don't know... maybe he is looking to have a relationship again but thinks I'll say no or something? He is my family, di. He just needs someone to believe in him, you know? Everyone has always given up on him. If I do that too... how am I any different?"

I let her talk her thoughts aloud. I could only imagine how insane it might turn her into, wondering if she was being foolish hoping for Vivek to be good.

She chuckled looking at me with her pleading eyes, "I don't know. I know he has gone far off the rails once. I know he has hurt me. He can say some really mean things. I know he has disappointed me many times and we play the same game over and over again. But, for some reason, I still feel responsible for him. I have to believe there is still a part of him that can come back to me. Is that crazy?"

As much as I wanted to tell her yes, I couldn't. I could understand the innate desire for her to want her sweet brother that she once knew to return. I tell her that, "No, it's not crazy. You are probably setting yourself up for disappointment, but I get it. He is your brother and no matter how much he has hurt you in the past, you loved him. A part of you always will. You need to believe he can redeem himself."

"Yeah... but the worst part is that I don't even know whether I am just seeing things I want to see or if any of it is even real."

I offered, "Do you want me to look into it?"

Her eyes filled with a ray of hope but also fear.

I put it at ease by promising, "I won't tell Arnav unless something turns up that is worth telling."

She nodded in acceptance. "Okay, that sounds fair. Thank you so much."

I patted her knee for it was a small matter. Then, I asked for confirmation. "You are sure he isn't in trouble with gambling or anything?"

She assured me, sounding convinced, "I'm sure. I know the difference in his behavior. He'd only gamble when he would have one too many drinks and for the longest, I haven't seen him hungover, hooded eyes in clothes reeking of alcohol, any of that. Something happened like three years back and it had to be something big enough to give him enough of a reality check to turn his life around."

I placed my hands atop hers. "Then, we'll find out whatever that is and get him out of it."

She nodded in relief before reaching out to hug me. "Thank you, di. Really. I was going crazy trying to deal with this by myself."

"You're not alone anymore," I promised her placing a loving hand on her cheek. I really prayed things were as she was seeing it and Vivek wasn't going to turn around and hurt her again because if that happened, I would hate to see what it would do to Lavanya again. Or what Arnav would do to him for hurting his best friend.

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| . . . A U T H O R - N O T E . . . |

Ouch, for Khushi... but we all knew she would find out about Aarav eventually. Just fine-tuned this one instead of changing it too much. So, yes, short chapter but be back soon - hopefully.

Anjali's POV a lot sooner! What do you think? I thought there had to be some longing for Aarav... she is a mother, after all. Even if she is not strong enough to accept him yet, she does love him. And more on Lavanya's thoughts for Vivek... like a true sister fighting for her brother to come out of whatever hell-hole he's dug himself in. Seems realistic or not? Let me know!

Please check this for an important announcement: https://www.wattpad.com/623589519-meet-the-author-the-big-move (link also on my profile in conversation tab)