Next Morning

Arnav knocks on the door of Gupta household, and Sashi opens it with a warm smile.

"Arnav beta, come in, come in! It's so good to see you" Sashi was excited to see him after a week, he starts early in the morning for his work, so is usually not present when Arnav comes to pick Khushi for college but today he took an off so that he can take his son for a checkup

"Good morning, Uncle! Good morning, Aunty! How's everyone doing today?" Arnav greeted them with a cheerful smile as soon as he entered

"Good morning, Arnav beta! We're all doing well. Come on in." Garima called him towards the dining table where she was setting the breakfast

"What's the matter Uncle, you didn't go to office?"asked Arnav while walking towards the table

"Yes, wo.. I.. I have to go somewhere else.. So" Sashi trailed off the sentence not knowing what more to say

"Waah.. You made my favorite Cheese and pickle Sandwich?" Arnav forgot everything as soon as he saw his favorite food

Sashi took a sigh of relief. Hiding Aryan's Medical condition is one thing but he cannot lie to Arnav.

"Haan beta, yours and Aru's favorite" Garima smiled

"What's that you've got there, Arnav?" Sashi asked, noticing some package in his hand

"Oh, this? It's a little something for Aru. I know he's been wanting this game set for a while, it's the latest one in the market, so I thought I'd surprise him with it" Arnav himself sounded like a kid while talking about the new game

"Oh, Arnav beta, that's so thoughtful of you! Aryan will be over the moon. But don't you think, you're spoiling him? " Garima asked with fake anger

"Well, Aunty, it's no big deal. Aryan's like a little brother to me. And besides, it's his birthday soon, right? Consider it an early birthday present!?" He grins making Garima smile

"Indeed, indeed. You always have a way out, Arnav." Sashi was glad that Arnav brought smile to his wife's face

"Ah, don't mention it, Uncle! Now, where's the birthday boy? I can't wait to see the look on his face when he gets his hands on this game set." asked Arnav scanning through the living room

"He's in his room, probably still asleep. Let me go wake him up. You two make yourselves comfortable" She served them breakfast and went to wake Aryan up

"Uncle, these Sandwiches are amazing! Aunty really knows how to cook!"said Arnav digging into the deliciousness

"Garima's food is always a hit in our house" Sashi smiled proudly

"I Agree!" He pointed his finger in Absoluteness

Just then, Aryan walks into the room, looking sleepy but excited.

"Arnav bhaiya! You are already here?let's go and play one round, before di gets ready.. Ok? " Aryan called him to play a video game

"Hey champ! Not now.. Later at evening..but now I've got a little surprise for you" Arnav was excited

"What is it bhaiya?" Aru came running towards him with enthusiasm

Arnav hands over the gift to Aryan

"No way! The game set I've been wanting!" He jumped with happiness and hugged his Arnav bhaiya

"Ok.. Ok.. Now let your bhaiya eat" Garima came near them and fed a morsel to Arnav

"Maa, why are you feeding bhaiya? He's not a small kid" Aryan said making them smile

"Oh, Aru.., it's a way of showing love and affection. Don't worry, you'll understand when you're older" Garima smiled

"Ok then, I'll also feed him a big morsel because I love him so much" Aryan fed him making Arnav raise his eyebrow

"Hey, hey, enough of feeding me, Aru! I think I've had my fill for the whole day" Arnav said with his stuffed mouth, making everyone laugh

"You know, Arnav, you have a way of changing the mood here. Everyone becomes a different person when you're around" Sashi told him as a matter of fact

"Well, Uncle, what can I say? I bring the fun wherever I go" Arnav joked

"Is everything alright with Khushi? She seems a bit quiet, lately." Garima asked Arnav if he knows anything that happened in college which made her upset

"Don't worry Aunty, She probably is just buried in her books again. You know how Khush is, always lost in her own world of equations and theories" Arnav asked them to relax

"That's true. She's quite the nerd, isn't she?"added Sashi

"You said it, Uncle. Sometimes I wonder if she's secretly a robot programmed to study 24/7" He saw khushi coming towards them and hence teased

"I heard that, Arnie! Just because I prefer expanding my mind with knowledge doesn't mean I don't have any fun..!" She replied like he expected her to

"But let's be real Khush, you're the textbook definition of a nerd who is quite boring!" He loves to tease her

"Boring? Me? You're the one who spends more time with video games than with actual books! You are no less than Aru" She had a look on the new game set Aryan was playing with and sat opposite to Arnav

"Hey now, video games are a form of art, okay? They stimulate the mind and enhance hand-eye coordination. Right, Aru?" he told to khushi and then turned towards Aryan

"Right" Said Aru with a bright smile and did a high-five with Arnav

"Sure, whatever you say but don't come crying to me when your brain turns into mush from all that screen time." Khushi replied sarcastically

"you two are always at it. But seriously, Arnav, thanks for bringing some laughter into our home" Sashi told them off

"Anytime, Uncle. You know I'm always here to bring smiles and maybe a little mischief too!" He pinched khushi's nose making her move back

"Don't do that" Khushi hit his hand

"Why? I always do that.. It makes your nose cute and red" He started teasing her again

"Shut up Arnie" She chided him

"Aren't you both getting late for college?" Graima put a full stop to their argument

"Aunty, I have afternoon class only. I'll just drop khushi for her class" Arnav elaborated

"No need, thank you! I'll go by college bus" Khushi said with a straight face

Both Sashi and Garima raised their eyebrows making Arnav smile sheepishly getting flashback from yesterday

He had seen khushi looking at them, but he didn't get a chance to explain it to her.

"Yesterday, I had some work, Khush. That's why I asked you to go by college bus" He tried to convince her

Khushi didn't mind about him taking Sonia, he could've just told her. And not to forget he never liked giving a ride to any girl except her, this is the first time it has happened. So she was ought to feel hurt.

"No Arnie, it's not that.. As it is you've to concentrate on competition and i have prior classes, so i decided to opt for college bus henceforth" She told with a smile, pain hidden in her eyes

"Khushi, Now that Arnav has came to pick you, go with him for today" Garima told with a soft tone

"Your mumma is right" Sashi told leaving no chance for khushi to refuse

Arnav stood up and bid goodbye to everyone without hearing her reply and Khushi having no chance to deny followed him with a confused mind

_________________________

"Khush, I know you saw us in bike, last evening .. now come on .. you can ask Sonia too .. I picked her just because she too had work on the same place.. I wasn't purposely avoiding you" Arnav told to a silent Khushi,who wasn't talking to him since they left from home.

He came to their usual spot in canteen and sat opposite to where khushi was already seated.. Sonia was passing by when he included her in the conversation

"Arnav.. why are you treating her like a kid. obviously.. she'll understand.. Hai na Khushi?" Sonia asked her with a smile

"Yes. I understand" Khushi replied in no nonsense tone

"Wow. When I say, you don't reply.. when she say, you understand.. I don't understand you girls" Arnav shrugged before taking a sip of orange juice

"That's because, you've never tried to understand" Khushi was sounding sarcastic

Arnav just rolled his eyes

"Okay.. so tomorrow, we are going to queen's art gallery" Sonia announced

"Ya okay" Arnav nodded as yes

"Actually Khushi, me and Arnav got to prepare for the performance. Let's do one thing, you too join us. Actually, why don't we girls have a dress code. umm. I suggest white, gown.. what say?" Sonia explained, when Khushi looked Confused

Khushi was about to refuse but then her mind floating back to the words Arnav said

you're the textbook definition of a nerd who is quite boring

"Sure" Khushi smiled back thinking, it's time to show Arnav that she is not boring and that she can also have fun like others

But life is a bit complicated, there's a huge difference in having fun and making fun of oneself.. And there's only a thin line between that to cross!

Hum hanste hain to unhe lagta hai

When I keep smiling, they think

Ke hamein aadat hai muskuraane ki

That I have a habit of being Happy

Par voh naadaan itna bhi nahin samajhte

But those ignorant people, cannot understand

Yeh ada hai gham chhupaane ki

This is the art of hiding my grief

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With love,
Uzma.