Arnav POV

I breathed a sigh of relief as next few minutes passed in silence. Not that those ladies stopped talking, but I locked myself in my room owing to the fact of my much needed rest according to them. But only I know, I literally run here for my life from that Khushi Gupta. I still feel tickles on my body. Once, just ONCE her finger touched my skin and here I was all restless. It's not good for my future. I need to put full stop.

Pulled open the shirt buttons, I throw the shirt carelessly on the bed and ruffled my hairs in frustration. In the pretext of running away from Meghna I am inclining towards Khushi. It is not going to help me for sure. Meghna is not in the race, dadi supports me in avoiding her. However I try, I cannot change the fact of Meghna being a family and she will remain in our lives till the end. No matter, how much I avoid her in my personal space, she's still an unavoidable person in our family. Her presence and her rights on this family is never gonna elude.

But what about Khushi? Isn't she being dragged in my mess unnecessarily? Hell yes. She's my drain from Meghna. I am using her. Heck!!! What am I doing? I was not supposed to act like this. However difficulties I face, I should not use one person to escape from another person torture.

Khushi is a nice girl. She should not face what I faced earlier. She should not face betrayal from the person she loves. She loves me. That feels so nice. Someone apart from my dadi and iniya loves me. I closed my eyes in exasperation as the past come to meet me again. Will Khushi also be like her? Will khushi also leave me if again...?

A dry laugh bubbled on my throat. Who'll stay with me if the past decide to knock on my life again? Not she did, nor Khushi will. I can't expect much. They've their own life than pitying me. They've their own set of wishes than looking out for me. They've their own fantasies to fulfill than gussing over a...

"Arnavji..." I glanced at the closed door hearing her call.

Good or bad, today itself I'll end everything. I cannot bear Khushi advances which is scaring me, which is on the verge of breaking the wall around my heart. It's better to bear Meghna stupidity than Khushi's pure love.

Love, a euphoric feeling one could have in their life. But the reality was something else. Love would die if ever difficulties knock on the lives. Love would die if ever one failed to match their partner. Love would die in bitter times. Same will happen again in your life if you let Khushi in your life. Khushi also will get bored of you one day. Can you afford that? Do you have the strength to go through heartbreak again?, My brain gave reasons to coax my heart which is not satisfied with my decision.

"Arnavji... Haven't you promised about shopping? Come na.. I am waiting." I can feel her pout behind the door.

What the! What are you thinking Arnav? You're supposed to not get used to her. And certainly you should not anticipate or predict anything out of her actions, My brain screamed at heart. Heart was stubborn on imagining Khushi face. I pushed those both thoughts away and walked over to the door to open it.

"Awww... Arnavji, I agree you're eager to built a relationship between us. But I am possessive. Go and wear your shirt. I can't let any chudail to stare at you like this." She said with a pout.

Instinctively my eyes went to meet her eyes which was busy gawking on my bare chest. I closed the door with a thud on her face. Strangely my heart raced in horse speed. A wave of heat built up on my skin. Her rosy cheeks indeed told some story. Her words about possessiveness ringing on my ears again and again.

I rubbed my palms across my chest in an attempt to calm down the racing heart. Picking up the shirt I was about to slip into it, when my eyes caught the glimpse of myself on the mirror. Ears turned a slight tinge of red and what was with my lips. It stretched wide. I thinned it to stop myself from smiling. But it in own accord curl upwards stubbornly. God, I can't stop myself from smiling. I hit my head for my stupidity and smiled like an idiot. What is happening to me?

Didn't I promised myself to stay away from her? Hell yes. Anyways today is the last day of her in my life. Let's leave everything aside and end it in a good note.

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"Hey... Wait." I shouted hurriedly seeing her ready to climb on the seat behind me.

"What arnavji?"

"Er.. You cannot come with me. I mean you've your own vehicle right?" I asked noticing the scooty zest parked on our compound. If only I noticed that earlier...

"We're going to same place. Why two vehicles? Look arnavji, if we want to know eachother we should spend time together. How will that happens if we split on our own ways? Come on arnavji... It's not that you're stranger to me." She winked and I found myself nodding my head at her. My own reason was throttling my neck now. I've no reason up on my sleeves when I, myself requested her to know her better.

I felt her climbing on the bike and to my horror she put her legs on either side. My back was almost touching her. I gulped at the thought. She's so close to me. I start to rode the bike to end everything asap.

"Bye chotte, Khushi beta..." Dadi waved her hands as if we're going for a picnic. Fortunately the ride was quite serene than I expected. Strangely she kept mum and was contemplating about something throughout the way. I parked the bike in bazaar area.

"Arnavji, I've one doubt."

"What?"

"Why are we here?"

What the!! I looked at her trying to believe that she did not jumped down straight from the sky.

"You only asked me Khushi."

"So you're up for our engagement?"

Her question, hit the bulls eyes. I didn't give a thought to this.

"Didn't I said, I decided to give us a chance. I hope that conveys everything."

"It was normal shopping then?" She raised her brows in question.

I should've taken her to a cafe or park. How will I speak to her in this crowdy place? This Gupta spelled some cast on me, probably. My brain goes on vacation whenever she's with me. Uff...

"Kind off." I shrugged nonchalantly not expressing myself. I find it's better at the moment. 

She gives a radiant smile and hooked her arms on around my left one giving heart attack to my poor heart.

It's only for today Arnav, I calmed myself and let her to hold me.

She dragged me to a shop. Turning docile, I matched her steps and entered the shop without denial when all I wanted was to deny. Because I can't afford dresses from that shop. I need to empty my weekly wage to afford from here. But the thought of spending my first and last day with her convinced me to let her do whatever she wishes. It would be a white lie, if I say that I am not feeling sad about this day. Within a short period of time Khushi's antics and her nature imprinted on my mind. Peoples always come in and out from our life. Only few manages to imprint on our memories forever. Undoubtedly, Khushi is one of those few people in my life. But that doesn't make sure about one thing, if ever any bad happens on future would she stick with me like she's now? Answer, unknown.

"Arnavji... Look at this. Do you like this? My first selection for you."

I blinked my eyes seeing her full fledged smile. She showed some shirt and asked about my opinion. Why do I feel everything so perfect?

"Arnavji..." She chirped again and I nodded in reply. Her first and last gift to me. Her chirpiness are augmenting my guilt. Am I going to break this chirpy, hearty soul?

"Won't you select something for me?"

"No." My voice comes out groggily. Her eager eyes died down the moment I refused and if I am not wrong it misted in no time. She's sensitive or am I being rude? But I've no choice. It kills me to see her weaving dreams right infront of my eyes.

"Why?" She whispered wiping the corner of her eyes. Why do I feel awful seeing her tears?

"Let's end it here." I breathed out in bare whisper. Luckily, we're at a corner and dresses are hanging on hangers. There isn't any salesperson nearby.

"What?" Her doe eyes darted in uncertain.

I realised this is best time to reveal my displeasure. It isn't be the best place to have this conversation but my greedy heart wants more and more. I may give into her wishes sooner or later. And certainly I know Khushi and dadi have the switch inbuilt within themselves to control me.

"I lied to you. I am not interested in marriage. Better you accept this fact."

Tears rolled down her cheeks, like a dam broke. The chirpy, strong girl, I saw earlier was nowhere to be seen. Her jaws tightened and face turned rigid. She furiously wiped her tears with back of her hand. That shows she's back to reality. She's back from her lala land where she dreamed about us being husband and wife acting lovely dovely.

"Is it the end?" She asked painfully.

Good, she had accepted the reality but I've no dare left in me to see her crying face. Though it's better to break her dreams earlier than dragging it unnecessarily, it pained my insides.

"Yes. I suppose." I replied hoarsely.

I heard her inhaling a sharp breath and sniffing by the result of tears.

"Well, will you... I mean, will you buy something for me? I promise that was the last thing I expect from you. I... Accept my love is unrequited. But... I want something memorable from you. Something which always lies with me. Something which reminds me of you even if I ma.. marry some other man. Will you?"

Heck, I realised I've no energy left in me to see a crying Khushi. I prefer crazy and strong one. Her tears...

She looked at me with hope. And I nodded. Least, I could buy something for the girl who loved me for some time, who engraved her memories on my heart.

"Will you buy a mangalsutra for me?"

"WHAT?" I jumped back in shock. How can she ask this to me? How the hell she ask something which relates to her future husband...

"I know. It's weird haaina. Asking mangalsutra from ex-lover. Oops, you didn't love me. It's only me. If you buy it for me, I... I consider somewhere or even for microsecond I lived in your heart. That's enough for me. It hurts but... I'll come around soon. I ain't a magician, that whatever I wishes gets fulfilled automatically." This time I concluded, she isn't doing any drama. Her expressionless face says so but her eyes carries pain. Without ponder over anything I readily accepted. She accepted what I told, likewise it's my turn to accept what she wishes.

"I'll."

And we walk over to another shop after purchasing that dress for me. Unlike the time we entered hand in hand, we maintained an arm distance while exiting. Her eyes turned red. She's trying hard to blink back her tears. Time to time her palms went to her eyes wiping the tears away. Have my heart satisfied? No. Pain manifolds. Cause, unknown.

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