Hellooo Everyone...

So here I am with the continuation of the second Prologue that continues to sets the back story of their tale to the present.

So happy posting this in the flow of back to back today as I want to set it all up to certain point - given that my fingers have been dancing on the keypad penning the crux down!

Let me know what you all think!

❤

Let's dive straight right- In!

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Prologue - II

And needless to say - the elders in the orphanage were quite right about their prior intuition about an instant bond seeding in between of little Arnav and Khushi from the very moment they first met.

For ever since that moment - for many many years to follow - a steady deep bond of friendship continued to blossom and deepen in between Arnav and Khushi - Indeed. The two went on to be the inseparable besties within the whole big group of kids their age at the orphanage. The wardens knew - that they had nothing to worry about the other - as long as the other was by their side. They were a source of each other's heartfelt friendship, rock solid support, happiness, laughter for many years from the moments off early childhood and after!

And so, as time flew - years flew - the sincere bond in between of Arnav and Khushi only deepened with time too. Arnav being only six months older and with both of them being extremely intelligent and sharp witted- Khushi ended up being in the same class as Arnav - from the very onset of Grade 1. They would turn to the other for just about any help at the drop of the hat in school too. It wasn't that they didn't have any other friends - they did both at school and at the orphanage too - but all of their friends knew - that for Arnav- Khushi was the bestest and the most special friend of the lot and like wise for Khushi! By the time - their primary school ended - it was an obvious talk of the entire primary section - how Arnav and Khushi - were like the perfect example of inseparable besties who stood by each other - come what may.

As they studied and grew up together into the middle school years then - Khushi began exploring her cocurricular activities in swimming and love for nature/gardening/EVS a lot more in school than she did in her primary years - and Arnav too obviously went on to nurture his singing talent a lot more in both Indian and western classical music from not just his school teachers but also Matthew Dad + some of his acquaintances with musical professional backgrounds who offered to coach him for no materialistic return in cash/or kind!

And throughout all of this - they continued to remain as each others biggest confidante and supporter too. Arnav would cheer on Khushi the loudest in the school's swimming races. Khushi would cheer him/clap on him the loudest in the stage singing performances! And then when they would be back in the orphanage - they would spend most of the time together- doing their homework together, talking, sharing each other's dreams and secrets, caring for one another's welfare etc! Infact they would keep talking so much so all the time that after dinner - the wardens would often have to remind the two that it was now time to retire to their respective dorms(Which was obviously segrated gender wise after the age of six) for boys and girls in different sections of the Orphanage - for some good old sleep reminding the two that they could most surely catch up on their chit chat's when the morning came!

By the time - both Arnav and Khushi hit their teens - it was obvious to Mina and Mathew that the childhood besties might just most likely turn into childhood sweethearts as the first very feelings of teenage adolescence kicked in for the two and they were once again right in their intuition indeed. For to all the elders in the orphanage it was easy to read - that the only one Arnav probably liked ever since he had understood what it meant to like a girl - beyond friendship was Khushi and the same went for her as well.

Ever since Khushi did understand as she turned thirteen what it was to crush on a boy and not just consider him a friend - there was only one picture that came to her mind and that was off Arnav. Her bestie - her confidante who she'd grown up with. The one who'd been her light in bad moods. The one who'd been her laugh when she cried - after losing a swimming competition. The one who'd always been the first one to encourage her the hardest before exams - giving a damm about remembering that he was to write the same set of exams too! The one -who'd often tell her in her lows lovingly and warmly - ' why don't you sit down Khushi..and relax..and tell me..which song you want me to sing for you?? for I know...the sound of my voice will help you feel better almost instantly..."

And he had been right about that as well, for the sound of his singing had always been the balm to her low moods - always.She could and many times did sit for hours just listening to him practice his singing sessions as well - always encouraging his dream of wanting to pursue a career in music eventually! And these moments would always be so heartfelt between the two that not only the rest of the lot and their group of buddies in the orphanage - even Mini and Matthew Dad+Sister grace were often found feeling emotional at the very sight of Arnav and Khushi just being there for one another - always!

She knew he liked her more than a friend. He knew the same too and yet they never voiced it loud to the other - considering no need to say it out loud knowing that it was understood in between of them anyway that they would just always be together as besties/or childhood sweethearts - whatever the term may be!

But none of them knew then - A Twist was About to Come to their Door very soon.

One could term in Unfortunate/Fortunate as per their own perceptions- but this Twist came to their door - when Khushi was 14 and Arnav were 14yrs 6 months in the form off Rajesh and Ellie Maan - who arrived at Angel's Orphange expressing their wish to formally adopt Khushi as their child wishing to take her away to Fiji Islands and build a family with her.

(Context - Rajesh Maan's family had moved from India to Fiji Islands in order to seek greener pastures in 1960's and most of them lived there. He'd lived there majority of his Life too. He'd studied there, joined his fathers real estate business, taken it to newer heights as being the leading real estate developer within the major various islands in the country. He'd fallen in love with Ellie, married her and built a home and eventually a bigger family with their little girl Rose. They'd been a happy family - all was going well - until one fine day - the doctor diagnosed their daughter with a malignin tumour in her chest when she was 12. For two years - the parents did the best they could within their reach to treat their beloved daughter - taking her to all the corner of the worlds bestest doctors for relief - but as fate would have it - even after various rounds of chemotherapies/radiations/ they could not save her and the two lost their beloved Rose - their only child - at the age of 14 to the clutches of death.

Gripped by monumental grief at her daughters passing - Ellie went into a little depression and given that Rajesh deeply loved his wife - even though he was coping up with his own grief he felt he surely had to do something to get Ellie out off the swirls of grief that continued to grip her deeper by the day. Rajesh then - decided to travel with her around for a bit - in order to make her feel better with the change of scenery and places. For two months - they just travelled around the world - and Rajesh did see Ellie starting to feel better as he eventually counselled her through the days and nights with love and support - and led her to believe that their Rose wasn't really gone she was just always with them in their hearts. Their last stop of destination in their trip had been India - their hometown Lucknow as well where his grandparents had eventually lived(back in the day) and it was on one of these weekdays that Rajesh took Ellie to visit the school where his grandparents had studied.

Now call it fate - but it was as Rajesh and Ellie were just doing the school rounds with the staff as Rajesh had also given in some donation of funds in the name of Rose+ his grandparents as his they were the ones being alumini here - Ellie had spotted Khushi laughing and chatting with her dear friend Arnav by the watercooler. And -To Ellie's heart - the sound of Khushi's laughter had reminded her of that off Rose as did her twinkling eyes and smile and that eventually led a hypnotised Ellie to walk up to the water cooler to strike a conversation with the girl.

Now being raised well not just by their wardens at the orphanage but by their schooling too - Arnav and Khushi had obviously got into a polite conversation with Ellie and in the next five minutes of general chatter - Ellie had discovered from the two that they actually lived in the Angel's Orphanage - nearby being raised by Mini who was also still the principle at the primary department of the school. Ellie's heart began to hope and dream again - because she couldn't conceive again due to medical complications - she expressed her wish to formally adopt Khushi to Rajesh - when they reached back their Hotel - that day - which eventually led to their arrival at the Angel's Orphange door the next day expressing their wish to take Khushi home with them!)

And well - even though it did sadden Mini Maa and Mathew Dad to consider the same given that they loved Khushi immense and also because of the emotional affect this could have on Arnav - they felt compelled to think the heartfelt request for Khushi's adoption through - just like they did for any other child adopted through their orphanage in the past. For in their hearts they knew- this could lead to a whole new future for Khushi. Much better and prosperous one than the one they could mentor her through - themselves!

Usually, the kids stayed in the Orphanage after 18 - only if say they were continuing their college here in Lucknow and hadn't left the city to pursue higher education(which most of them gained scholarships for) as in colleges in other cities in the country. In such cases - the elder ones who eventually went on to other cities for education/ seeking professions eventually ended up building a life for themselves there but always remembering their roots with the orphanage in their hearts closely often returning to pay a visit to all and always nurturing the bond with Matthew and Mini and rest through calls etc. So for Matthew and Mini it was like - even though so many elder kids grew up and flew out their lives ways their bond with them always remained and it was the same with all the kids adopted through them as well. Those parents and kids would always allow the child to be in touch back with them as well on and off.

And the bit that this could be a completely new and greener life for Khushi was the only reason - why Arnav even though heartbroken at the very thought of letting Khushi go and not seeing her everyday - with a heavy heart managed to convince a weeping Khushi to consider the adoption by the Maan's family seriously - eventually.
Given that Khushi was 14 it wasn't that she could be forced into anything and nor did Mini and Matthew want to force her as well. At first - Khushi's first reaction was - No. That she didn't want to leave. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to leave Arnav behind. She couldn't even dream of a day without him in it in her presence around but given that everyone in the orphanage had witnessed the sincere emotions with which Rajesh and Ellie were adamant and pinned in their hopes off her adoption - Arnav took it on him to convince her through.

Arnav told her lovingly - that it wasn't as if she were leaving him behind for he'd always be with her anyway and given that they were in 2009 and the technology had advanced enough for the internet to be an active part of their lives - there was no way they could not be in touch as much as they wanted too. He was the one who made Khushi realise that she was the luckiest on getting a second shot and having not just Mini Maa and Matthew Dad as parents but a whole new set of legal family too who were eagerly awaiting to welcome her in and take her in as their own. He asked her sincerely - that if she were in his place and say an adoption offer as sincere as this one had come for him - not just being sincere and emotional in its background context but also with a backing off a greener future - would she have not edged him on????? The Maan's had lost their daughter and somehow miraculously they felt a feeling of being drawn towards her and wanted to start afresh with her as their own - if this wasn't one of the biggest blessings of God than what was??

And at that - Khushi had indeed stood dumbfounded not knowing what to say. Her heart was heavy with so much emotion but even then in her mind and heart in an instant she knew that if it were Arnav in her place getting the chance to be adopted instead of her she would have done the same for him convincing him to go ahead with no apprehensions!! Eventually Arnav succeeded in his mission to convince Khushi for the same even though his own heart was experiencing an array of deep aching emotions within.Khushi also finally did agree on the adoption to go through for she felt like - she had no other option. For when she was still hesitant in that last decisive moment - Arnav made her swear on the same by placing her hand on his very head leading her to declare to him that he most surely was in the most dramatic avatar she'd ever seen him all till then- was he sure he only wanted to be a musician+ singer and not an actor too??? They shared a teary chuckle at that and hugged each other emotionally after and Arnav knew that even though it really was breaking his heart to do so- he had done the right thing prioritizing his Khushi's best interest in her future!

So the adoption process began - and needless to say - the childhood sweethearts vowed to one another that they would never let go of one another no matter what happened. They vowed to keep in touch through mails, handwritten letters, Skype calls as much as they could and Khushi promised that she would obviously visit Arnav everytime she did come to India.

Now it was in these last couple of days as the legal procedure of adoption was on along with rest of Khushi's transfer formalities that emotions began to run quite high and vulnerable in its rhythms in their teenage hearts as she was about to leave and as much as they both knew it was for the best of Khushi's future- it didn't change the bit that it didn't ache.

Just a couple of nights - before her departure was when Arnav finally asked her to meet him at the terrace after everyone went off to sleep in their respective dorms - because he felt like he finally had to bear his heart to her in the ways he hadn't really ever before in terms of how deep he felt for her. It was also the night - he first kissed her. He didn't know if he was doing it right! He was just 14yrs 6 months over then but he knew it was all he wanted to do before Khushi left! To have her know that she was and always would be his first love+ the only one he'd ever love now or ever!

He'd voiced the same to her too all emotional after their first kiss and she'd done the very same in the fraction of a heartbeat - hugging him back all hard instantly. For the next couple of hours- they'd just spent a lot of time venting their heart out to the other and just kissing and holding each other tight in between! Oh it was a moment so magical and heartbreaking at the same time. They were each other's first love - had just shared their first tender kisses and only days before one of them was scheduled to leave! But nonetheless they made most of the time they did have and for the next couple of nights - they did continue to sneak out on the terrace after everyone slept to just steal some cozy emotional vulnerable moments with the other!

It was on her last night at the orphanage when Arnav had held her closest to his heart - feeling a ache so deep and hollow at the thought of finally saying goodbye in the sense that none of them kew when would they finally see each other again in real time. He'd kissed her for hours that last night - hoping that what he couldn't voice through more with words - his lips would make up for with emotion! And needless to say - he could sense the very same magnitude and vulnerability radiating through Khushi as well as she kissed him back as Hard - clinging onto him as if her life depended on it - till wee hours off the morning until it was almost time to Say Goodbye!

With bittersweet tears and a heavy heart - Khushi hugged everyone a teary bye - as she left Angels orphanage the next day with Rajesh and Ellie by her side - knowing very well that she'd left a solid chunk of her heart behind with Arnav+ the place that had been her home for all these years!

Ahhh and she most surely knew that she would never forget Arnav or Mini Maa or Matthew Dad or Sister grace or rest of her close friends- Meera, Swati, Neha at the Orphange! Her heart wouldn't let her - Forget- Ever!

She knew it would remember. And remember it indeed did - quite deeply
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Tadaaaaa!

How was That for the second installment of the Prologue? Did you all feel these childhood sweethearts tale touch your heartstrings as it did touch mine while penning down????

Do let me know guys!

Also the third and final installment of the Prologues will come up tomorrow! ( I have the entire bit written already but felt it would be better to post it in brief posts back to back🥰😉❤)

Thanks for all the Support and Love!

Much love×Gratitude
Always
❤
Prachi
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