Arnav's eyes were filled with a mix of frustration and desperation as he stepped closer to Khushi, refusing to let her go.

"Khush, you have to listen to me," he pleaded, his voice raw with emotion.

"No, Arnie," she sobbed, turning her face away. "Just leave. You've made your choice."

"Khush, please look at me," Arnav insisted, his grip tightening slightly. "You think I ignored you? You think I changed my priorities? Do you really believe that?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice breaking. "You did. You chose Sonia over me. You promised her you'd stay away from me."

"You're Misunderstanding Khush. It wasn't real.. Why do you even think I would do that" Arnav was frustrated

"Because you love her! You love sonia" Khushi cried

"I love you, dammit!" Arnav shouted, his voice echoing with intensity.

Time seemed to stand still. Khushi's heart skipped a beat, the words echoing in her mind like a symphony. The world around them blurred, and all she could see was Arnav's intense gaze, filled with love and desperation. A rush of ecstasy washed over her, melting away all the pain and doubts she had harbored. Her body tingled with an overwhelming sense of relief and joy, as if she had finally found the missing piece of her soul. In that instant, nothing else mattered; she felt truly alive, wrapped in the warmth of Arnav's love.

"You think I chose Sonia over you? You think I made those promises because I wanted to? You have no idea what's been going on!" Arnav cleared the air

Khushi froze, her tears stopping momentarily. "What are you talking about?"

"I made a deal with Sonia," he revealed, his voice still rough. "She loves Rohan, our principal's son. She wanted to make him jealous by pretending I was her boyfriend. The only way she'd let me join her in the competition was if I played along. She made me promise to stay away from you so Rohan wouldn't see us together and get suspicious."

"Why would you agree to such a deal?" Khushi asked, her voice trembling.

"Because I needed the prize money," Arnav admitted, his eyes pleading with hers. "The prize money was enough to help with Aru's treatment. I didn't want to reveal Aryan's health condition to Abhi bhai because I overheard Sashi Uncle and Garima Aunty wanting to keep it a secret. I wanted to help without hurting their feelings or anyone finding out."

Khushi's heart pounded as she listened, her mind struggling to process everything. "You did all that... for Aru?"

"Yes, Khush" Arnav said, his voice softening but still urgent. "I didn't care about the competition. I cared about Aru, and I cared about you. I thought if I could help without making it a big deal, it would be worth it. But I never stopped loving you, not for a second."

Khushi's breath hitched, and she looked up at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You... you love me?"

"Yes, Khushi," he said, his eyes locking onto hers. "I love you more than anything in this world. I've always loved you. Please, give me a chance to make things right. I can't imagine my life without you."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Khushi felt a wave of relief and joy wash over her. All the pain, all the doubts, melted away in that moment. She threw her arms around Arnav, burying her face in his chest as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I love you too, Arnie," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Khushi felt the world slow down as Arnav's confession hung in the air. Her heart raced, pounding against her chest as she gathered the courage to speak her own truth. The love she had hidden for so long, locked away in the depths of her heart, was finally bursting to the surface. She had always been afraid to admit her feelings, fearing rejection and the loss of their cherished friendship. But now, standing before Arnav, she could no longer keep it inside.

"I love you too, Arnie" she whispered again, her voice trembling with emotion. "I've loved you for as long as I can remember. I tried to hide it, to keep it a secret, because I was scared. Scared of losing you, scared that you didn't feel the same. Every moment we spent together, I wished you could see how much you meant to me. But I was too afraid to show it, to let you know. I thought it was better to suffer in silence than risk everything."

She took a deep breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over her as she continued. "But now, hearing you say those words, I realize how foolish I was to keep my feelings hidden. I love you, Arnie, with all my heart. And I can't imagine my life without you. I've been waiting for this moment for so long, and now that it's here, I feel like I can finally breathe."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but they were tears of joy and liberation. Her secret love was no longer a burden she had to bear alone. It was out in the open, shared with the one person who mattered most. And in that moment, Khushi felt a profound sense of peace and happiness, knowing that her love was reciprocated and that they could face the future together.

Arnav held her tightly, his own tears threatening to spill. "I'm sorry, Khush. I'm so sorry for everything. But I promise, I'll never let you go. We'll face everything together, I promise."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the world around them seemed to fade away. In that moment, nothing else mattered. They had found each other, and that was all that counted.

Just as the moment of confession between Arnav and Khushi culminated in a tight embrace, Abhi walked in, catching sight of them hugging. With a broad smile, he called out, "So, finally, my buddhu brother and my princess have confessed their love for each other, huh?"

Startled, Arnav and Khushi quickly pulled away, blushing furiously. "Bhai!" Arnav exclaimed, trying to cover up his embarrassment.

Abhi chuckled, "I think I will have to arrange both of your weddings along with mine since Mom has started looking for brides for me."

"Abhi bhaiya, please," Khushi mumbled, her face turning a deeper shade of red.

Arnav, noticing her discomfort, tried to deflect. "Come on, Bhai, don't embarrass her like that."

"Oh, am I embarrassing her, or is it you who has been hiding these feelings for so long?" Abhi teased, winking at Khushi. "But seriously, I'm so happy for both of you. It's about time!"

"Bhai, stop it. You're making her uncomfortable," Arnav said, his tone light but protective.

"Alright, alright," Abhi said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But you know, now it will be easier to convince Uncle not to shift to Mumbai for his work. After all, his daughter's heart lies here."

Khushi looked up, her eyes wide with surprise and hope. "You think that will work?" she asked softly, hoping they could treat Aru here, as soon as possible.

"Of course, it will," Abhi replied confidently. "How can they separate lovebirds? Especially when the lovebirds are as stubborn as you two. And can Uncle ever refuse me?"

Arnav smirked, wrapping an arm around Khushi's shoulders. "He's got a point, Khush. Besides, who would want to miss my charming company?"

Khushi rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide her smile. "Yes, yes, Mr. Charming. But still, Bhai, thank you for being so understanding."

"Anything for you, Princess," Abhi said warmly. "Just promise me you'll look after my buddhu brother here."

"Hey!" Arnav protested, laughing. "I can take care of myself, thank you very much."

"Oh, really?" Abhi shot back. "Then maybe you should start by making sure you don't keep any more secrets from me."

Arnav and Khushi exchanged a quick, nervous glance but managed to keep their smiles. "We'll do our best, Bhai," Khushi said, hoping he wouldn't probe further.

Abhi smiled, not noticing the brief tension. "Good. Now, let's go back and join the others. And remember, no more hiding. It's time to celebrate!"

As they headed back, Khushi felt a surge of gratitude for Abhi's support and for the love she and Arnav had finally confessed. They still had secrets to keep, but for now, the joy of being together overshadowed everything else.

____________________

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Love, ❤
Uzma.