During one week..

Arnav woke up and looked at his recliner empty, there wasn't her, her blanket, her pillow! It was empty.

He frowned "Why should I waste my time thinking of her?"

He went to the bathroom and closed the door with a bang.

After freshening up, he opened his closet and choose the suit for him.

"HP.. HP..." he yelled.

HP came running to his room, "Yes Malik.."

"Go and.." he sighed "It's nothing.. You go.."

HP nodded scratching his forehead, and went from there.

Arnav then headed to a room, and ironed his suit and shirt alone.

He remembered about her teaching him to iron his clothes, the way she hugged him from behind, then placed her hand on his guiding him.

"Arnav!" a Khushi of his dream appeared in front of him.

She smiled and hugged him from behind, placing her hand above his and guiding him how to iron his suit just like the way she taught him.

He let her hands guide him, and stare at her behind him, who was giggling at him like an angel.

"Arnav bitwa.." Mami widened her eyes when she saw the iron on his finger, and he completely lost that didn't even realized he was hurting himself.

"Ouch.." he hissed in pain coming back from his dream land to the earth with Mami's shout.

He sucked his index finger that got hurt while he was ironing thinking about Khushi.

"What are you doing bitwa? Leave all this.. HP will do it.." Mami ran to him worried.

"I'm fine Mami.." Arnav said and ironed his suit with a frown on his face. Mami stood still staring at him, she wondered what happened with him. Tu jo nazron ke saamne kal hoga nahi Tujhko dekhe bin main marna jaun kahi

(When tomorrow, you will not be before my eyes

Without seeing you, I just might die)

"Bitwa are you okay na?" Mami looked at him concerned.

"Hmm.. I'm.." he said without looking at her.

***************************************

Mami passed by the corridor and found Akash going to office with his bag.

"Akash bitwa.." she called him.

"Yeah ma.." Akash turned to her.

"Call Payal bitiya home. It's been a long time since I saw her.." Mami smiled faintly.

"Why Ma? You want to scold her for going to her parents home! Please Ma.. I'm trying to mend our relationship now, don't separate us more than we are now.." Akash said.

"No bitwa! I swear I don't wish bad for you. The same way you're trying to mend your relationship with Payal, I also want to give our relationship a chance.. I realized that there is no point in treating her badly, she is not wrong.. My point of view is wrong.." Mami said, and her eyes showed she was truly repenting for what she did.

Akash nodded surprised: I will inform her, but if she doesn't want. I won't force her..

Mami smiled: Okay!

**************************************

Arnav was driving back to home, he stopped the car when he saw the red signal, and sighed seeing the traffic ahead.

He tapped his finger on the steering wheel impatiently, that's when his eyes landed on a lady whose height was similar to Khushi, and was wearing the red salwar Khushi wore when they went to shopping.

"That's not me! Stop looking at other girls like that.." he turned to other side of his car and saw her leaning on the back side of his car pouting.

"You! What are you doing here?" he asked with a confused smile on his face.

"Why were you staring at her like that?" a jealous Khushi asked him.

"No! I wasn't staring at her, I was thinking about you.." he smirked.

"Acha! She reminds you of me!" Khushi widened her eyes.

"What the..." Arnav frowned when cars honked at him, he looked in front of him and saw the green light on, now he understood why were they honking at him.

He started driving, and then glanced at her through his mirror, but she wasn't there anymore.

Tujhko bhool jaun kaise

Maane na manaun kaise

Tu bata...

(How do I forget you

How do I make myself understand

You tell me...)

"What the.. What's wrong with me? Why am I day dreaming of her?" he frowned slamming his fist on the steering wheel.

*************************************

Khushi rolled on the floor trying to sleep at night, she wasn't able to now. Because everytime time she turned she thought she would see him on his bed sleeping.

She thought she was on his room, on his recliner with one of his pillows that had his smell!! "Thinking of me Jerry.." Arnav appeared in front of her and leaned on the floor beside her.

"Hmm.." Khushi nodded staring at him, while he looked at the dark sky filled with stars on the terrace.

"You shouldn't have talked with me like that! I'm hurt you know.. Say sorry now.." she pouted while big fat tears came out of her eyes.

"I'm sorry my Jerry.." he held his ears with a smile on his face.

Khushi giggled seeing him say sorry by holding his ear.

Madhu woke up hearing Khushi's voice, "Kya hua Sona? Aren't you getting sleep here?" Madhu pulled her old bed sheet to cover Khushi properly, that was sleeping with her.

Khushi looked at Madhu shocked that she woke up, she turned to Arnav's side to tell him to go away as Ma would scold him.

But when she turned Arnav wasn't there, it was her imagination only.

She sighed sadly and cuddled to Madhu to sleep with tears on her eyes.

Roke na ruke naina

Teri ore hai inhe toh rehna

Roke na ruke naina...

(The eyes are unstoppable

They want to remain towards you

The eyes are unstoppable...)

"Why are you crying Sona?" Madhu kissed her forehead caressing her hair.

"I'm not.." Khushi quickly wiped her tears.

"Acha! Now you will lie to your mother.." Madhu smiled.

"No! Ma why do I let people affect me? Why am I so fragile? Why do I break down so easily? I hate myself.. I really hate me.. I try to be strong but I can't.. His words affect me.. His hurtful words prick my heart.." Khushi cried.

"Don't say like that my Doll. You're strong, if you weren't strong then how come you managed to change his family, how come you fight with that man who tried to molest you, hmm answer me?" Madhu patted her shoulders.

Khushi nodded and hugged her mother tightly, "I'm strong only.."

"Are you talking about Arnav? Didn't I told you to forget him and just concentrate on changing his family? Khushi don't get much attached to him, that one day it will be difficult to leave him forever.." Madhu said.

"Ma.. I know, I said that after fulfilling Nani's last wishes, I would give him divorce.. We both don't love each other, so there is no reason to continue this marriage.. But he can at least be friends with me, am I that bad?" Khushi looked up to her mother.

"No! You're not bad.." Madhu kissed her forehead "Sleep my dear.. Good night.."

****************************************

Arnav was going through the magazines of AR models.

He was just flipping the pages, his attention wasn't there..

"Karan look at this outfit! My God Arniee you're genius.. I want this for me.." Meera couldn't stop gushing over Arnav's designs.

Arnav looked at both sat in front of him, but he didn't register anything they were talking.

Kaat'tha hoon lakhon lamhe

Kat'te nahi hain

Saaye teri yaadon ke

Hat'te nahi hain

(Millions of moments are spent

Yet they remain

The shadows of your memories

Don't go away)

Karan: Arnav don't give your collection to her.. She cheated on you.. She started wearing outfits from your rivals.. Shii what a friend you're..

Karan laughed and Meera started beating him, he got up and ran around the cabin.

Arnav was completely unaffected by their childish act, he didn't glared, yelled or asked them to go out of his cabin.

Karan and Meera stopped running, and looked at him with wide eyes.

***************************************

NGO:

Khushi sat on the floor of the living room, after serving everyone their lunch.

She was really happy by seeing their neighbors helped them by distributing food and drinks for the kids after knowing about the accident.

She looked around and saw everyone satisfied at least.

Madhu came to her and gave her a glass of juice.

Khushi took it from her hand with a fake smile on her face, but even that fake smile didn't last for long on her face when she saw it was an orange juice, his favorite.

Sukh gaye hain ansu teri judai ke

Palkon se phir bhi badal

Chhat'te nahi hain

(Tears of your separation have dried up

And yet the lashes are clouded

With sorrow)

"Drink it Jerry.. I want to see that yuck face of yours.." he chuckled and sat beside her.

"Who said I don't like this juice? I like it and I will drink it and not make any faces.." Khushi said with a challenging tone.

She drank the juice in one go, and looked at him smirking.

Then turned her back on him, and shut her eyes tightly, and stuck her tongue out unable to bear the taste of the juice.

Arnav chuckled and came in front of her, "You look cute!" he pinched her nose.

Khushi opened her eyes, and he wasn't there anymore.

"Arnav.." she whispered his name looking around.

"Didi what happened to you? Why are you talking alone?" Kriti looked at her with a confused expression.

"Nothing.." Khushi hit her forehead, scolding herself for dreaming so much about him.

***************************************

"Khushi stop doing that.." Arnav frowned still with closed eyes.

"God Khushi.. Just stop it.. Let me sleep.." Arnav shoved the hand patting his cheeks.

"ARNAV BITWA" Mami screamed trying to wake him up, he fell asleep on the sofa.

Akash, Mami, Mama, Meera and HP couldn't stop laughing by seeing him thinking that Khushi was here and trying to wake him up. Now they saw Arnav was missing his wife.

Arnav slowly pulled the pillow off his face when he heard laughter sounds, and opened his eyes embarrassed for his outburst.

He sat on the sofa, and caressed his neck biting his lips, hell embarrassed!

"Woh.. I was just.." he tried to look out for an excuse.

"It's okay.. We know you miss your wife!! I will call her and ask when is she coming back" Mami clutched her belly controlling herself from laughing at his face.

"NO.. Don't call her.." he shouted.

Everyone laughed again at his face, only he wasn't finding anything funny without her!

Khud ko main hasaun kaise

Maane na manaun kaise

Tu bata...

(How do I make myself laugh

How do I make myself understand

You tell me)

Roke na ruke naina

Teri ore hai inhe toh rehna

Roke na ruke naina...

(The eyes are unstoppable

They want to remain towards you

The eyes are unstoppable...)

"Don't tease him Manorama.." Mama said and patted Arnav's shoulder.

"Go and sleep in your room Arniee.." Meera said.

He nodded and went to his room with his mood completely off.

*******************************************

One week later...

AR..

"What does she think of himself? Can't she call me one time? Ohh her big fat ego doesn't let her.. I called her once and she didn't attend my call.. Dammit.. I hate her.. I really do.. Don't know why I gave her so much importance.. It's better she stays in her NGO or wherever she is hiding from me and never comes back in my life.. Why didn't she call Mama at least to inform where is she now! One week and she completely forgot about us.. She is not responsible at all.. All she does is claim that she wants to fulfill Nani's last wishes but where is she now? Disappeared! And doesn't even call me to inform where is she staying now.. I hate her.. I don't know why I called her.. Heyy are you both listening to me?" he looked at both his friends, Karan leaned on his chair rolling his eyes and Meera yawned playing with hair.

"You're repeating all this since 8am Arnav.. One hour Arnav.. I even memorized everything now you said.. I can repeat it for you.." Karan cried.

"Yes! I can also repeat it for you. But please Arnav keep quiet now!! We need shanti (peace).." Meera said.

Arnav sighed and looked at his table, playing with his pen.

There was silence now, all over the cabin.

"I MISS HER.." Arnav broke the silence.

Karan's phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor, but he cared less. And only looked at Arnav shocked.

Meera fingers came to halt while playing with her hair, she looked at Arnav with big eyes.

"Stop giving me those looks.." Arnav frowned.

"Are you serious?" both asked to Arnav at the same time.

Arnav nodded and bit his lips, "I'm.."

Meera smiled and hugged herself: Awww.. Arniee you're cute!

"You're gone dude!" Karan shook his head in disbelief..

****************************************

Khushi leaned on a tree, and hugged her knees.

She was missing HIM and his family terribly. Now she was used to live with them, their cute fights all the time, Mami cool talks, Mama talking about his old times, HP running around the house scared of Arnav, everything now she missed. When she entered in their mansion, it was like a hell to her, but now she wants to go back to that hell!!

A kid came running to her, "Didi.. Someone called you.."

Khushi nodded and took the phone, she glanced at the caller Id and almost gasped.

"Arnav called me yesterday! What does he want? Don't think too high Khushi, he surely wants to scold you.." Khushi thought.

***************************************

AR..

Arnav's phone rang, he picked it without glancing at his phone to look who is calling him, as he was irritated with his friends look at him. Like he was an alien for missing someone! But well, he also admits it's kind of rare for him!

"Yeah.." he glared at his friend.

"Arnav, you called me?" her sweet voice played a melody on his ear.

Arnav blinked his eyes, feeling her voice, which he didn't hear for one whole week!

"Arnav..are you there?" she asked.

Karan and Meera were like is he romancing with his phone now!

"Yeah! I did call you and you made it a purposely-missed-call.." Arnav frowned.

"I don't even have time to check my phone. I'm helping the kids with Arjun and Ma. A kid only came to give the phone now.." Khushi replied.

"Ok! Now tell me where are you hiding from me now?" he asked with a sad tone.

Karan and Meera were like Awww by seeing his cute sad face.

"I'm at NGO.." Khushi replied.

"Why are lying to me?" he frowned.

"I'm not lying to you Arnav. Why do you always falsely accuse me?" Khushi said.

"You're lying because I send Aman to your NGO and no one was there.." he gritted his teeth.

And there wasn't a response now. He glanced at his phone, "Dammit..she cut my call.." Arnav left the phone on the table.

"One more week.." Meera sighed.

"You will make her become Slow and Furious Bhabhi.. Now she will take more time to come back.." Karan face palmed.

Arnav leaned on his chair, and closed his eyes.

"Continue your lecture!" he sighed.

His phone rang again, Arnav opened his eyes and glanced at it. A smile appeared on his face.

"Khushi.." he immediately picked up the call.

"Sorry for not explaining! I'm at my old NGO.." she said with a serious and hurt tone, he could feel that.

"No! I'm sorry for showing you my anger all the time" he said. Karan jaws dropped seeing ASR say sorry to a girl! "Address?" he asked hesitantly.

"Address.. Note down.." she said still in shock, he said sorry to her!

Arnav quickly took his notebook and pen, and wrote the address she told him to.

"Ok! See you soon.." he said and hang up the call.

This is my favorite chapter of this story! 😍❤

Hope you all enjoy it!