It had been two months since ArShi had had a new start in their relationship. They had practically been living next door to each other, for more than eighteen months at this point but for the last two months, their relationship had changed for the better. They had both made efforts to grow closer and closer to each other with every passing day, grown from friendly acquaintances to good friends in a short period of time. For various different reasons, Arnav and Khushi could never interact with each other, the way they would have liked in the initial stages of their relationship for Arnav was too awkward to approach her and Khushi was too shy. The last two months had given the two of them a much needed freedom to explore their relationship without any awkwardness or fear of rejection that overtook them earlier whenever one of them thought of taking a step in the direction of the other.

They talked for hours, on texts, calls, even non-verbal gestures. Arnav had always been fiercely protective of his personal life and tried actively to guard himself from the world, but with Khushi he was a carefree child, smiling and laughing, holding nothing back. Khushi, although relatively more relaxed, was also private in her own way but like him, became a little child when around him. Their daily morning tradition now involved a good morning wish and a drive to their workplace together. Khushi was still not aware of the true identity of her smile mate and although Arnav felt bad about lying to her, he couldn't risk her knowing anything about him, at least not yet.

Arnav was waiting for Khushi in his car outside the office complex. It was way past the office hours, and Arnav's patience was running thin. He glanced at his wristwatch, a frown marred his face. It was seven thirty in the evening, twenty minutes past her usual time of leaving the office. The whole staff had left the building, with the exception of the girl that he had been waiting for, for what could easily have been half of an eternity to him. She walked out of the building, just as he was about to call her to inquire what was taking her so long. Arnav shook his head, his annoyance was long gone and was replaced with a warm feeling in his chest. He smiled.

This was her affect on him, she could literally change his mood with her mere presence.

Khushi got into the front seat of the car, "I'm sorry!"

"Twenty whole minutes Khushi! What were you even doing in there all alone?" He asked, frowning at her.

Khushi sighed. "I know Arnav, I'm sorry." She pouted cutely, trying to pacify him. Arnav smiled, taking her hand in his own. "You're the hardest person to be angry with, you know that?"

Khushi chuckled. "I'm aware, I have a pretty irresistible puppy face." She said mischievously.

Arnav agreed, stepping on the accelerator. "Hungry?" He asked. Khushi nodded. "Famished."

Arnav smirked, driving away from the office complex. "There's a pretty decent restaurant just down the lane. They have amazing Indian food."

Khushi nodded, "I've heard of it too." She said. "I have always wanted to go there but I hate going to restaurants alone. It feels weird."

Arnav blinked, acknowledging her answer. "Well you could've said something before today, I'd have gladly accompanied you to wherever you wanted to go." Arnav told her. Khushi allowed a small smile on her face. "You're taking me there and I didn't even have to ask you to."

"Well.." The man started, his gaze fixed at the road in front of him, one hand entwined with Khushi on the gearshift, the other securing the steering wheel. "That's not the same thing. It was a coincidence."

Khushi bit her upper lip, smiling sheepishly at him. "It is for me." She shrugged.

Arnav clicked his tongue. He parked his car in the restaurant's parking area, got out of the car and went to the other side of the car, offering his hand to her.

They entered the restaurant, hand in hand and were led to their table by a waiter. He arranged a beautiful bouquet of flowers in the vase on the table. "Have a great evening Ma'am and Sir." He bowed slightly at them and left after taking their order.

Arnav plucked a white rose from the vase and presented it to her. "A little someone told me that dates usually start with a rose."

Khushi took the rose from him, "A little someone told me that you have an obsession with roses." She said eyeing him teasingly. "Why's that?"

Arnav chuckled, "I love roses. I have a terrace garden back at my parents' home. It's full of flowers, white, yellow and red roses, lilies, hibiscus flowers etcetera etcetera.." He told Khushi.

"You'll have to take me someday." Khushi demanded, excitement palpable in the way her eyes had begun to shine. Arnav couldn't help but smile at the way her eyes had brightened up. "Well, if you'd so insist."

Khushi's smile suddenly dropped, "I.. no I'm not asking you to.. if you don't want to.. you don't have to." She spoke quietly. The panic that Arnav saw in her eyes at his unintentional quip made his heart stop just for a tiny second. He reached for her hand across the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Hey.." He spoke comfortingly "Of course I'd want to take you home baby. I have to show you so many things, my garden, my balcony- Oh and my terrace space. It has this beautiful corner I turn into a fort kind of thing full of pillows and blankets. The place is my personal heaven for times when I'm not in the mood for my sister's madness, the view is almost always so beautiful, but especially on a full moon. The whole terrace is bathed in a silvery light on a full-moon." He explained each little detail with a twinkle in his eyes.

Khushi listened intently, hanging on his words. Maybe he wasn't much of a talker, his silence was what defined him to many but to her, this was her favorite Arnav. The Arnav who could talk like there was no tomorrow, who could rant on and on about the things that he loved, the people he valued. It was extremely rare, but her favorite nonetheless, so she listened. She listened as he spoke, carefully, attentively and with a smile on her face.

Arnav looked at Khushi, her eyes were fixed on him. He smiled, a blush creeping into his face. "I'm done." Khushi giggled, watching his face heating up in a blush. Arnav looked away, embarrassed. Khushi giggled again.

Arnav blushing was both rare and endearing.

Just as Khushi was about to say something, their order arrived, reminding them how absolutely famished they both were. They served themselves, and dug in. They both stole glances of each other throughout the rest of the evening, knowing that the other person was doing the exact same thing to them.

***

The dinner was a jovial affair with Khushi's endless chatter, Arnav's exasperated eye rolls. They both exited the restaurant, just like they had entered, Hand in Hand. Khushi was talking, like she always did, nineteen to dozen with a huge smile on her face. They got into their car and drove towards their apartment. Khushi concluded the story that she was telling Arnav and leaned back into the front seat of his car, closing her eyes.

"Are you tired Khush?" Arnav asked lovingly. Khushi hummed. Arnav smiled, "We'll be home soon enough."

Khushi nodded, "I'm not going to fall asleep in your car Arnav." She assured him.

"I won't mind if you did. I'll carry you home." Arnav said, shrugging nonchalantly.

Khushi chuckled. "I feel like it's going to rain." She said quietly. Arnav frowned thoughtfully. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" He asked.

Khushi shrugged, suddenly she straightened up in her seat as she saw a Ice-Cream seller on the other side of the road. Arnav, who's attention was just as much on her antics as it was on the road, raised his eyebrow at her questioningly, slowing the vehicle down a notch just in case there was something wrong. Khushi shook her head, silently. Arnav sighed, "Please tell me Khushi, what is it?" He asked, parking the car on the side of the road and turned to face her.

Khushi was surprised at his gesture. She smiled at him. "Er.. There's an Ice-Cream seller, on the other side of the road." She told him in the quietest of voices. Arnav breathed out a laugh, "What flavor do you prefer? My treat. I've heard Ice-Cream is believed to have mood lifting properties. You look like the perfect candidate for a trial." He said, trying to cheer her up.

"My mood is absolutely fine." Khushi said softly. Arnav rolled his eyes at her. "Oh please, You can't sit quietly for more than three minutes at a stretch. You've barely said a word throughout the car ride."

Khushi chuckled wearily. "Alright, you got me."

Arnav sighed, "We'll get back to this okay?"

"Strawberry?" Arnav guessed her favorite flavor. Khushi groaned, "No! I hate strawberry flavored Ice-Cream. I want a chocolate chip tub. The large one." She said childishly, making Arnav smile at the sheer adorableness of the girl in front of him. "Your wish is my command." He got out of the car, after dropping a quick chaste kiss on her forehead. Khushi blushed, looking at his retreating form.

After a few minutes, Arnav returned with a huge tub of chocolate chip Ice cream for Khushi and a slightly smaller tub of the vanilla flavored one for himself. He handed her a wooden spoon, "Dig In!" He said, and resumed their journey to their home. "Why were you upset?"

Khushi shrugged. "I don't know, really. It's probably nothing." She said quietly.

"You are a little crazy." Arnav chuckled, watching her eat the ice cream like a child.

Khushi pouted.

"Can I ask you something?" Khushi asked cutely. Arnav nodded.

"Why don't you stay with your parents?" She asked curiously.

Arnav looked thoughtfully at her, "I don't really know. I just can't." He told her. "I completed my school education from a boarding school in Dalhousie because Dad was always moving around for his job. He settled down, eventually but then I had been away for long enough to be habitual to being on my own. I came back home, did my graduation but then moved to the United States for post graduation and by the time I came back, I was really used to living alone. Mumma and Dad live in Mumbai too, and I go home every week. I want to move back in with my parents but I can't find a reason good enough to do that." He told Khushi

Khushi nodded. "You don't talk about your parents much either, any specific reason?" Arnav asked.

"I was eight or nine when they.. died. I don't exactly have much to talk about." She responded, in an even quieter voice. Arnav squeezed her hand comfortingly. Khushi sighed and rested her head on Arnav's shoulder. The ¾th part of the ice cream tub rested on her lap, it's lid closed. "I've lost so many people who I cared about. It's hard to count." She whimpered, a solitary tear streamed down the right side of her face, into the fabric of his black shirt.

"You'll never lose another person Khushi, I promise." Arnav said comfortingly, kissing her head in a manner of assurance.

The rest of the journey passed in silence, Arnav drove with Khushi's head still resting on his shoulder, quiet.

Arnav couldn't help but feel terrible about invoking some of the most terrible memories of Khushi's childhood. Losing their parents at such a tender age couldn't be something that you move on from. Arnav sighed, "I'm so sorry Khushi."

Arnav drove into their building, parked the car in the parking area and turned to face her. He smiled, finding her sound asleep on his shoulder. He gently caressed her cheek, and moved her head to the seat so he could get out of the car. He walked upto the passenger side of the car and scooped her gently in his arms. She whimpered quietly, only to be soothed by Arnav pulling her closer. He took his apartment keys and carried her towards the lift.

He opened the door to his apartment, trying his best to not disturb the sleep of the girl in his arms, and entered his house. He laid her on the bed and covered her with a comforter, tucking her in. Next he went to collect his laptop bag, her handbag and the two tubs of ice cream that were left behind in the car before, because he had to carry Khushi home. He kept her handbag and his laptop on the sofa in his room, the ice cream went straight to his fridge before he returned to his room, to find Khushi sleeping peacefully in his bed. He smiled at the innocence of the girl in front of him.

What would he not give to make this a permanent vision for himself. Her, in his bed. Peaceful and happy.

He bent slightly and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, wishing with all his heart, for her to be happy. She grumbled sleepily, causing Arnav to jump slightly. "Shh Shh.." He mumbled, easing her into slumber. He caressed her hair, running his fingers through her beautiful and soft brown hair. She sighed happily, cuddling into him. Arnav smiled at her. "Good night sweetheart." He whispered.

I'm exhausted. I did get a little late. I was just trying to come up with an OS, didn't make it though. I hope you don't think this chapter wasn't too rushed, honestly I just don't want to stretch it more than I have to. The story is pretty straightforward to be honest.

It reminds me so strongly of "When destiny.." I mean, the plot's obviously not the same but the essence of the story, kind of is. 

WDPYT was a special story, It was my first cliche romance. 😂😂

Okay enough about past complete stories, let's refocus on this one.

Guys, I want to read your thoughts on the story, I'd really appreciate you could drop in a word or two. A little push on the comment count, if you please 😅😅

Were ArShi adorable enough for your liking, hope so!

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