Helloooo Everyoneee

How are you all doing? Hope you and your loved ones are doing great! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

So yes – I am here with the next update – back to back.👩‍💻👩‍💻👩‍💻😊😊😊

Okay to be honest – this bit was supposed to be a part of a longer update but when I finished writing this bit today, I totally wanted it to stand out as a small update on its own. Felt fair to show Khuhshi's POV before the much awaited meet happens....

I Absolutely loved penning this down. So excited for you all to read this! I truly am enjoying the writing journey of this tale – so so very much. I hope you all are enjoying the reading experience off the same, too.

I'd also like to take this moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for being with me on my writing journey. For all the love and for all the patience – always! Like I always say – you all are a part of this enriching learning curve of my journey as a writer too. So thank you to one and all – for your time and support – Always!

And okay so now without further delay I shall let you all dive in.

Word Count – 3 k Words

.............................................

Copyright :

Text Copyright©mysticaltales11111™2022

The Moral Right of the Author has been asserted. All Rights Reserved. This Story is published subject to the condition that it shall not be reproduced or transmitted/distributed in whole or in part, in any manner, whether in electronic or in hard copy, without the written consent of the author, and any infringement of this is a violation of Copyright Law.

All Rights Reserved® mysticaltales11111

..................................

** If you are reading this work on any other platform other than Wattpad/ especially TRUYEN4U.net then you are very likely to be at a risk of a Malware Attack for these sites are Mirror sites – who are reflecting our work through a malware lens. If you wish to read this Story in its Orignal, Safe, form, please go to Wattpad.

Please bring it to my Notice by Messaging me on Wattpad, where in my username is – mysticaltales11111 - if you read this Story on any other platform, apart from Wattpad/ India Forums.

...................

9. Disrupting My Orbit

The Next Day – In Sydney, Australia

5:00 PM

Khushi's POV

I hear Manizeh's voice fall into my ears from behind, as she asks – " really?? Khushi?? still going to go on with work? When you are just like technically – a couple of hours away, from meeting Arnav after all these years?? We only got done by 4pm anyway,c'mon just stop...how many times are you going to keep saving the same data? It's hurting my eyes to literally – to see you make that tenth copy – now..."

She's wrong, it's not the tenth copy. It's Eleventh. Actually..

I continue to save up my data compiling files in my laptop with the aim to not let that reminder from her mess up my calm in the moment – but I answer honestly – " well, it's the 11th copy Manzieh. And hey, what's wrong with being extra careful. You surely, know we cannot afford to lose this data. And about the bit you just reminded me off – I am sure you also know that is precisely the reason why I still need to keep working. Just, tell me like 30 minutes, before we need to head out...k?"

Given, that we had a multiple dive expedition yesterday, all of today went in just team meetings, that involved our tasks in compiling, edits, analysis off the data captures from yesterday. Thank god for that, for yes, it's been consuming my mind wholly and I haven't had the time to give anything else the thought space, within my neurons.

Our project head – wanted us all to get this part of our working done, before we get out to cover another zonal expedition, tomorrow. He thought it would be easier, if we just work on collating the back end work simultaneously rather than leaving it for the end because then it will just be too much, in terms of multiple zonal data captures.Good idea, from him totally.

I admit the same to Manizeh now – beginning to initiate the tech – process of making another copy – " Hmmm, by the way, Manizeh... I also personally think, its more efficient to finish the back-end work related to a particular zone's data, before stepping out to explore – new ones. What do you think??," I ask, with the hope that she totally buys it as a context of conversation.

I feel her stomp up to the desk in our room, that we sharing (As usual) – and in a repeat scene as the one on the research vessel the other day – I feel her shut my laptop screen with a thud, before she swirls the chair around, to make me look at her and she shoots me a steely glare that makes me say on reflex raising my hands to the side – " alright, fine...I will not make another copy....okay...?"

Oh, I should have just known she won't let me carry on with my usual – work for distraction – trait – that has often come to my rescue ever since – the movie – 'The Return of Arnav' – started playing on the screen of my Life. She's been trying to get me to talk ever since she found me crying my eyes out on the boat yesterday – after my call with Arnav. Needless to say, I was a freaking emotional mess, after that talk with him.

I needed time, though. And she'd let me be, because she'd surely witnessed that – I wasn't going to be able to get a word out anyway – through my momentary emotional outburst – that was inevitable – after I heard the words – See you soon – from Arnav, and the underlying reminder of the haunting aching memory in context – from him. Directly. She tried to get me to talk last night too – but I just insisted on getting good sleep instead. And well, it's just been work, work, work – all day – today – until – now...

She's got her hands folded across her front and she's literally tapping her foot in front of me impatiently which is another usual gesture in between of us when we want to coax the other into honest conversation. She says now rolling her eyes at me – "are you really not going to tell me the details of the talk that made you freaking cry that way? cmon, babe, I haven't freaking seen you cry like that in a long time.Ever since...then...,"she pauses, for we both know the reference to the time of – Then – in context here. It was the time – he walked away..seven years ago..

And I finally get up from my chair and sigh looking straight at her,and she catches my gesture of sitting down to talk and we both take our seats facing each other on the sofa – "Yeah,well, I haven't cried the way I was crying, ever since then, indeed, Manizeh..."

She nods and reaches out to hold onto my hand in comfort and she says softly – " it freaked me out, you know to find you locked in the washroom of the boat – crying your eyes out that way...,"and she asks now – " what happened? why were you crying that way?? what did the two of you talk about??c'mon , you better get out with it all, before Samarth and Amaar arrive to pick us up,"and she adds in a surprised shrug next anyway – " plus, I can't really believe that this is happening. That we are all about to meet, ASR.."

I admit now recalling the memory, feeling it send chills down my spine again – " he asked me to never call him that you know..Manizeh, ASR..he said, I am Arnav to you, always was...always will be.."

That catches her curiosity even more now as her eyes widen – " wait, wait, what?????? did he really??cmon, start from the top..please?"

I nod.And I tell her everything...word to word...

Minutes later, once I am finally done and she is the one gaping at me in confusion this time around as she says – " whoa...if that's what was spoken and said in between the two of you...its only added fresh confusion to my head..."

I say snapping my fingers – " exactly,right?? in my head too,"and I ask as my neurons finally open up to the brainstorming of it all – " I mean, you tell me, Manizeh. What am I supposed to presume of all of this???"

She says deep in thought – " hmmm, and I also wonder what did that – bit off – there is more than what meets the eye? On the chat mean? Khushi, are you missing a piece in the puzzle??"

I shake my head groaning – " I'v been thinking the very same, ever since, but no. In my head, the sequence of events that had happened, are like so clear. Its all engraved in my being.Manizeh. So now like why is he reminding me – that he's spent longer years of his life knowing me – instead????or saying things like I'v been aching to listen to your voice etc etc, so much of me is still the same, why don't you give me more of your time so that you can discover?? Etc etc..."

Manizeh sighs – " hmm, is the former bit irritated you though?? in the first place???????,"and I nod and admit – " yup, it freaking riled me up insane.."

She admits with a shrug – " probably because it just hit base within you, I mean it is a factual point babe, the two of you have spent longer years as the closest to one another, literally almost double....or were you just more irritated with the bit that he sensed you got your guards up, and the bit that he still can get under your skin..."

I sigh brushing my hand through my hair – " yeah, kinda like all of the above..."

And she clutches on my hand instead – " first tell me , why were you crying that way? was it just about venting out that peak irritation/frustration??"

I admit now shoving my face in my hands – " nah. It was obviously just not about that...Manizeh...it was also about what I felt underneath that streak of irritation..more about that actually...from the very second, I heard my name in his voice, it's just been uber crazy within, then that vibe on the phone with him on the other end messed me up too, for once, in my heart it totally felt like – as if I was not talking to the Arnav I have not known for seven years. It did feel like I was talking to the Arnav, I knew. And then that freaking intensity of his tone,words, during our conversation, it just felt like, so so intense coming from his end, that it did shake me up to my very core...just why did he have to say my name with the same intensity like he used too, when we were...us...all those years ago, like you get what I mean? theres wasn't any indifference, or causality in his tone/words at all....it was the same familiar freaking intensity..,"and I can't help but sob into my own hands as I whisper admitting and accepting it to myself and her at the same time – " he's just disrupting my emotional orbit Manizeh,he really just is, messing and disrupting it all.... "

She pulls my hand off now in a comforting gesture and hugs me tight as she whispers – "oh cmon here you. You need a hug...,"and I hug her hard a minute later - I just look at her helpless as I admit wiping the confusing trail of my tears – " you know what I freaking realised? That as much as some questions have the power to bring you insane amount of clarity. It can also be a double edged – sword, for guess what? Some questions asked within one's mind or aloud – can lead to utter chaos – too??"

Manizeh hugs me again – " it is all chaotic within, isn't it??,"And I can only hug her back harder, my turmoil now bare and evident to her – " indeed, only chaos is what I feel. I just feel – all these – why's I'v asked me have been like that double edged sword and what's even crazy is that my mind has another list of Why's ready, that it wants to ask him...keep asking him.."

Manizeh pulls back now and scans my frame – " you mean? your heart isn't complaining about him disrupting that orbit within??"

I sigh and admit – " it surely isn't. Its still excited with the frequency and intensity of the feels within after all these years?? Why do you think, I just couldn't dodge the topic of meeting him??? because well, now....every bit of me wants to see him – too...even though my mind is a little skeptical with all the thunderous impact that it could get its way, my heart just wants to go for it..."

Manizeh sighs at that first but then gives me a small smile – " only fair that the heart overtakes babe.Dont beat yourself for it. You'v had it all dormant within for so long..."

I sigh – " he surely hasn't struck me like a thunderbolt this time around. He's struck me like a full-fledged – solid meteor...,"and then I am compelled to pick up my phone as I say flashing it to Manizeh – " and I wana ask him – why is he back with a mission meteor to my existence – when all of the netizen world – can't stop talking about him and Syna...its caught more of a wildfire online..ever since he stepped into the airport with the group yesterday...??you see it right?? I am sure – you saw it all???already??"

Manizeh gives me the look taking my phone – " oh, so you did see this..."

I admit – " ofcourse, I did...and I saw it after our talk actually, why do you think, I am feeling this way? all freaking chaotic..and meteor hit.."

Manizeh says now after a deep thought – " know what? just ask him about it upfront? This Syna angle?"

I admit shrugging – " I want to, okay? But then at the same time, I also don't want him to know that I am interested to know about his dating life..,"and I bury my head in the cushion next to us – " ugh, ugh, ugh..what do I do??????????"

Manizeh pulls me up now and hugs me tight before she pulls back and says to me – " you know what you should do?? just freaking disrupt his orbit too...I think you still might have the power too...i mean, I totally presume that on the account of all that he's been saying...,"and she reminds me – " he did text you when he reached Sydney right??"

I nod – " yeah, only I didn't initiate much of a chatter after, because well we had a busy day at work right?and he did also text – the location of us meeting up around 3 too..and I just sent a okay to that. Will be there...that's all...but...I am just trying to play all casual to him where as ...the truth is, I am just a nervous wreck within – what will I feel when I finally see him in person? Manizeh??"

Manizeh smiles at that – " I wish I could answer that,babe. You will only know, when you actually meet him. anyways, how about this? Let's talk about what you wearing to dinner then????? seems like a good distraction, momentarily??"

Indeed. An excellent distraction that would be, for in all this turmoil, I obviously just forgot to figure that bit off it out..

I smile – " yeah..let's do that...thank you for listening ..as always..what would I do without you.."

She grins – " you never have to do without me...,"and she holds my hand and drags me to my suitcase now and we begin to go through my stuff.

Twenty seconds in the middle of that – my phone rings. I statue at the sight off who is calling...

It's Arnav.

Manzieh guesses it in an instant as she shoots me a go on just pick it up – look. And I take deep breathes to just steady my nerves again, before taking the call. I remind myself that I can keep the cover of calm -ON.

But the very second I hear him say my name on the other end – my heart feels its meteoric impact – almost instantly.

I hear him ask again through my five second silence – " hey....Khushi????Khushi??? you there???"

I say now gulping down the flux of emotion – " Hey...yes...I am here...Arnav.."

Now I get a five intense silence from him, before he says – " okay, so, this is me calling to just re-confirm on our plans again. Our plan is on right????? we are meeting at 7 tonight?"

I answer on reflex - " I don't remember texting you its cancelled...or something...Arnav..."

And I can actually sense him sigh in relief at that as he says – " great, this is great, I was actually nervous that you'd bail on me, maybe. I mean – you haven't been responsive much on chat...all day...so I thought let me just call you to reconfirm..."

I cover up to that – " I was just busy with work...Arnav..that's all..k? plan is on...k???,"and I hear some voices on his end with Aman's voice being the highlight calling out to him so I say – " looks like you gotta go this time around..."

He says – " yeah..kind off...we were just in the middle of winding up rehersal...for the first concert performance......tomorrow...so yeah, on that note...I'v been meaning to ask - you will come won't you??????? to my concert? I really want you too, I'v often wondered what it would be like to perform on stage – knowing you are there in the audience listening – in real time..."

I feel shock rake through my being again at that – " what??????????? what did you just say???????"

He answers instantly – " I said, exactly what you heard, Khushi????"

I ask again frazzled – " you want me to come to your concert tomorrow??"

The thought off seeing him perform up live – for the very first time – hits me like a meteor yet again.

He says – " ofcourse, I do...,"and I hear Aman's voice call out to him again and he says – " sorry, I gotta go now khushi... what say, you'll think about it? let me know over dinner??"

I say on reflex before I can even control the fumble of my words – " but wait...isn't it like house full already? All sold out??Your concert?? How will...I even...??"

And to that I hear him say instantly chuckling – " really? you think I wouldn't get the free pass to invite who I want too? all of us as performers – get special passes...Khushi...so is that a yes??will you come??cmon you cannot say no to that, it would be unfair to my singing talen..remember??,"he asks the tinch of hope – quite evident in his voice.

Oh yup. Ofcourse he'd get exclusive passes. HE IS A ROCKSTAR NOW! - my mind reminds me..

I just say casually even though all of me within is shaking and trembling – "so..I don't know about that.I'v never really been to any of these concerts before....."

He insists with all that intensity back in his voice – " about time that changed, Khushi? don't you think??"

Okay. Seriously. He gotta stop on that Intensity meter.Why? It weakens me in my knees.He just doesn't need to know that. I keep my casual cover on – "I don't know..yet....but..yeah...I'll think about it – maybe??"

And he kind off sighs in relief at that – " thank you for saying that..k..bye for now..see you then Khuhshi?? in 90 minutes??"

And I muster a – " Yeah...k?see you...,"before we finally hang up and I spot Manizeh gaping at me with a grin as she asks – " did he just ask you to come to his concert tomorrow??"

I nod – shaken – " yeah, I guess, he just did..."

She grins – " he's just securing another way to see you tomorrow already....damm right you were..freaking meteor he is...Khushi..."

And I can only gape back at her in a shocked daze – with all of my insides already tremoring on the imagined emotional impact off seeing him perform up Live on Stage! Manizeh's phone rings with Amaar's call and she takes it – leaving me with another couple of minutes to just soak it through..

Oh Godammit..

Another point of discovery. Guys.Looks like my emotional orbit that was just in the middle of crazy disruption is now headed for a full blown collision impact...

Would it combust me?

Blow me apart?

Burn me??

I don't really know....

Can I escape this? Do I want to escape this?

Not Really.

Okayyyy!

Okay...

Bring it On.Arnav....Bring it On....

Guys - I am not going to back off out of this or find ways to escape...

Why? Because – I just discovered - I am done being the only one – hit and impacted. I am seven years ahead into the story of my Life. I am freaking confident of the woman I have become. And it totally feels like it will not be just/fair to my journey within otherwise – if I keep seeking the comfort off backing off/escapism – going forward.

 I had never imagined any of this would even happen, but now that it is happening – Arnav has kinda left me with two choices. Collide or Flee. And I feel like- I am just done, fleeing.And as I channelize my sense of self belief now – it just instils the seed off conviction within me quite strongly. What conviction -? That it's about time, I also initiate a full-blown collision mission from my end – too.

Why?

Because – even though my logical minds still clouded with confusion - something in his tone this time too, told my intuitive gut that perhaps – there could be a chance that I still got some access to his trigger buttons.

Only fair to feel all curious to know – if that stands true? Perhaps - I can be a cause of disruption to his Orbit – Still? In the present too?

......................................

TADAAAAAAAAA!!

How was that guys ??? So Khushi as shaken as she is emotionally – but now that its all soaking in and finally happening...she feels like she's also set to face this upfront –– and head on - which is why I just wanted to show her POV prior to the next meet update.

Next Update – Is Most Surely – their Much awaited meet update...Pakka se. Coming up on Friday –

10 – Long Time, No See!

See you soon guys! Take Care!

Happy Ganesh Chathurthi to you and your family once again! May Bappa – bless you with love, light,joy, peace, health, prosperity, calm, and harmony – now and always!🙏🙏🙏🙏

Much Love* Infinite Gratitude – Now&Always

❤

Prachi