"Chalein Arnav?" Aman approached Arnav, who was waiting for him to bid goodbye to his girlfriend Sheetal at the parking lot of their company.

"Yeah," Arnav, who was chatting with Khushi on WhatsApp, nodded as he glanced once at Aman before shifting his concentration back to his phone to inform Khushi that they're on their way to pick them up from college. 

As they walked to Arnav's car, Arnav got in the car and kept his phone on his pant pocket as he looked at Aman, who took the front seat beside him.

"There's a slight change for our plan tonight," he informed his friend.

"Slight change in MY plan and I'M the one who doesn't know about it?" Aman raised his one eyebrow.

Arnav flashed a sheepish smile to his friend before explaining, "Well, it's just that we're not going to your new place tonight, but to watch Rocky aur Rani ki Prem Kahani. " 

"Rocky aur Rani kaun? And why are we going to watch their love story?" Aman gave him a 'Hain??' confused expression.

"Because Khushi wants to watch their love story," Arnav replied, "It's a movie, Aman. Instead of partying tonight, I thought we should take Khushi, Lavanya, and Ayan to watch the movie with us. What say?"

Aman shook his head, staring at his friend judgingly, "You're ditching your best friend because of your new friend. Waah.. sahi hai!"

"Don't be dramatic, Aman. I'm not ditching you. If you use your brain, then you'll understand why I made this plan so that I can keep you and Khushi happy," Arnav said, punching Aman's cheek playfully.

"Does it hurt to say a simple 'no' to Khushi?"  Aman asked amused.

"It does," Arnav chuckled softly as he shrugged, "Main kya karu? Voh ekdum masoom si, cuti si bacchi ki tarah hai.. usse manna karne ka dil nahi karta hai mera (What should I do? She's like an innocent and cute kid. I don't feel like saying no to her.)

Aman glanced at him suspiciously, "I see.."

Understanding his friend's gaze, Arnav cleared, "No, I'm not back to my Majnu Aashiq mode for your kind information. I just feel like Khushi's family put a lot of restrictions on her, and because of this, she struggles to talk openly with others. She always keeps herself isolated from everyone, hiding in her room under the pretext of studying. That's why I'm always soft with her. I'm dealing with her patiently so I can make herself comfortable and let her enjoy life the way she should without having fear of her family. And you know, nowadays I'm seeing changes in Khushi's behavior, she had the courage to send me a message asking me to take her to watch this movie and I finally see my efforts bringing fruitful results."

"Accha thik hai.. don't make me emotional otherwise I'll start rooting for your happily ever after with Khushi," Aman pouted.

"No love story.. I don't want to focus on this now," Arnav shook his head, "My and Khushi's friendship is way more beautiful than my one sided love."

"What happened to the Arnav who was so determined and willing to fight for his first love? What made you change like this?" Aman asked curiously.

"That Arnav got his reality check from his dear Ma and his best friend, Aman!" Arnav replied.

"Good boy!" Aman pulled his cheek earning a glare from his friend.  

Suddenly Aman got hiccups, he patted his chest and Arnav was quick to offer him a bottle of water. Aman thanked him, saying: Let's go.. *hiccups* it must be Lavanya cursing me *hiccups* for being late to pick them up from college. She already complains to Ma at home that they have to wait a long time for us to get off work and then pick her up."

Arnav chuckled, "Serves you right."

"Kaisa dost hai yaar (what kind of friend are you)" Aman pouted.

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

To save their time, Arnav and Aman thought it was better to go to Arnav's home first and pick Ayan and then they went to Khushi and Lavanya college to pick the girls so they could leave directly to the shopping mall to watch the movie at the theater.

"They're coming," Arnav said as he saw Khushi and Lavanya walking out of the college gate and coming to his car.

"What the.." Aman's eyes widened when he saw from the car's window, his sister talking with a boy of her age, they were approaching their car parked outside the college gate.

Aman looked at Arnav, still in shock, "What is she doing? Who is that guy? Is she coming to introduce her boyfriend to me?"

"Mujhe kya pata? (How would I know?)" Arnav shrugged as he peeked to see the guy is talking with.

"How will I react if she tells me he's her boyfriend?" Aman asked cluelessly.

"Mujhe kya pata!" Arnav repeated his line earning a smack on his arm by Aman who glared at him, "Mujhe kya pata.. mujhe kya pata.. ek hi line repeat kar hi ja rahe ho gadhe kahike (How would I know? How would I know? You're just repeating one line.. you donkey)."

Ayan laughed silently behind as he watched the hilarious scene unfold.

Arnav chuckled staring at his friend in disbelief, "Par mujhe kya pata hoga Aman.. she's your sister, not mine. You're the one who have to decide how to deal with her, if he turns out to be her boyfriend."

"Mujhe toh problem nahi hai agar dono limits mein rahe toh.. but Ma won't allow her to have boyfriend when she's still studying (I don't have problem if both stay in limits)," Aman said.

"See bhai.. learn something from Aman bhai, he's so cool," Ayan leaned closer to Arnav and whispered on his ear from behind. Arnav looked behind at his brother, narrowing his eyes at him, "You keep quiet and don't get too excited. You're not going to get permission from me to date your classmates. You're still in school and Lavanya is in college. Do you understand the difference?"

Ayan pouted and leaned back on his seat.

"They're coming.. they're coming," Aman informed desperately. He composed himself, sitting straight and keeping a serious look as he whispered to Arnav and Ayan, "I'm going to act like a serious elder brother. So you two don't spoil my act by laughing at me."

Arnav and Ayan agreed.

When the trio reached, Khushi was the first one to get in the car at the back seat, she joined Ayan smiling excitedly at him, "Ayan, we're going to watch a movie together this time!"

"Yess Didi," Ayan was equally excited as he raised his hand in the air to high five with Khushi. Khushi slapped his open palm, giggling. 

Arnav's heart melted watching their excitement to watch the movie. For a while, he forgot his curiosity over the new guy still standing near Aman's door with Lavanya. It was his weird way of talking in hindi that caught his attention, and his shifted his attention to the new face.

"Paise hai aap? (Are you money?)" NK asked Aman smiling brightly.

"Nahi, main paisa nahi hu (No, I'm not money)," Aman replied confused.

Arnav could hear Khushi giggling from behind, but his eyes were still fixed on this boy.

"Uffo NK.. you better not speak hindi till you learn it properly. Stick to english only," Lavanya hit her forehead.

NK smiled sheepishly, "Sorry sorry, my hindi is not that good. I was asking, how are you?"

"Kaise hai aap?" Arnav corrected as he finally understood what NK was asking in hindi.

"Yes, correct. Kaise hai aap?" NK pointed his index finger at Arnav, winking at him, with a 'you got it man' expression.

"I'm fine. And you?"

"Same here."

"Bhaiya he's our new classmate NandiKishore aka NK. He was living in Sydney with his parents, but then they had to shift here in Delhi because of work. So that's why he joined our college a little late," Lavanya said, introducing NK to her brother.

"Ohh friend!" Aman smiled relieved. Arnav and Ayan trying to hold back their laughter.

"And NK, he's my elder brother.. Aman!" Lavanya said.

"Hi. Nice to meet you," Aman smiled, extending his hand for handshake with NK to which he reciprocated. Lavanya then introduced him to Arnav and Ayan too.

"Bhaiya.. NK is new to the city and he doesn't have any friends apart from me and Khushi. Can you give your permission to take him with us to watch the movie?" Lavanya asked with a pleading smile.

"Err.. car toh Arnav ki hai Lavanya (this car belongs to Arnav). And we don't have enough space in car also, you, Khushi and Ayan already occupied the backseat," Aman said apologetically.

"Chalo, koi gal nahi (Let's go, no worries). Get in the car.. Ayan will sit on his lap," Arnav said, gesturing them to get in the car.

Ayan cried, not liking that he was getting removed from his comfort seat, "Bhaiiii!!"

Arnav looked back at him, signaling him to keep quiet and not complain loud, "Chup (Keep quiet). Do as I say."

Ayan frowned as he got down the car waiting for NK to sit so he could sit on his lap. Lavanya also joined them, she pulled Arnav's cheek, squealing, "Thank you. Finally you did something good for me."

"You're welcome Lizard," Arnav winked at her. NK giggled and Lavanya glared at both, "Great.. welcome to the team, NK!"

As Arnav started the car, he looked at Ayan through the rear mirror, "Ayan you'll have to lower your body when you see the police so we don't get caught, ok?"

"Ji bhai!" Ayan replied, his tone was lifeless as he was still angry with Arnav for sacrificing his seat for NK.

Arnav already made his mind to buy his favourite burger as a way to compensate him for what he did to the poor kid.

Ayan's anger didn't last longer as he started to play his games on his phone and that caught NK's attention, who also loves playing games, so they started bonding well. Khushi was just watching them play game after game while Lavanya was requesting them to look at her phone so she could click a nice picture to post on her Instagram account.

At the front seat, Arnav and Aman were talking about their matters.

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

Raizada Apartment..

"Where's everyone? Why does this house look so empty?" Akash asked as he settled himself on the sofa of the living room, joining his Nani, Ma and Ratna aunty to watch the TV.

"Hello Hi Bye Bye.. Arnav bitwa took Ayan and Khushi with him to watch movie with his friend. He didn't even rememberwa you also here.. you're his cousin!" Mami said with an offended tone.

"It's okay Ma. Waise bhi, it's too late for me to go out. I need to wake up early in the morning to leave for hospital," Akash said, gesturing his mother not to create a scene because of this, with his eyes.

"Haina bitwa? You're right. It's too late, I shouldn't have given permission to Arnav bitwa to take Khushi and Ayan out at this time," Nani said, frowning slightly, worried for the younger ones safety.

"Ma they're with Arnav. Nothing will happen to them. You're getting worried unnecessarily," Ratna sighed. She's already tired of this constant need to control Khushi's time to do everything in her life. Now she's beginning the understand the suffocation Khushi must feel with all these restrictions on her. And like her son, she's also determined to give this girl the freedom and peace she deserves.

"But it's not right for Khushi bitiya to go out at this time," Nani said.

"Oh, so Arnav, Akash and Ayan can go out of the house anytime they want because they're boys and a girl needs to think which time is right for her to go out," Ratna said frustratedly. Because she also went through this, maybe different way than Khushi, but during her marriage period, she forgot herself to devote her life to her husband as she was taught by elders, only to get betrayed the same man, whom she considered her life. She loved, respected and did everything he wanted, only for him to cheat her with another woman. After her divorce, she realized how much she neglected herself during her marriage, how much she doubted her capabilities as a woman and let her husband take control over her. Now she understands how much this patriarchy system destroyed her life, her self-esteem. 

She tried her best to educated her sons and not let them become like their father. But she still struggles to change this mindset of the members of her family, especially her mother.

"But Ratna you know women need to protect themselves-"

"Men need to control themselves Ma!" she said angrily as her eyes moistened, "If that man (her husband) stayed in his limits and respected our marriage, then Anjali, Arnav and Ayan wouldn't have to grow up without their father. Don't you think? Or you think it's my fault only, I wasn't a good wife to him and that's why he cheated on me and abandoned me with three kids?"

"No, you're right only," Nani said ashamed. She got up to sit beside Ratna and caressed her daughter's hair, guiltily. 

Akash felt bad. He immediately got up and went to the kitchen to pour water on a glass and came back to give it to Ratna, who thanked him genuinely.

Mami rolled her eyes watching the scene.

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

At the Shopping Mall..

"There's still time for the movie to start. We will have to wait 30 minutes," Arnav informed them as he came back with tickets for everyone.

"Great!" Lavanya smiled as she pulled Khushi and NK with her to click more pictures with them.

"I'm going to use washroom," Aman said and he left. 

Arnav stayed with Ayan. He side hugged Ayan, pulling his brother's nose playfully, "Are you still angry with me?"

"Nahi.. it was actually good to sit with NK bhai. He also loves playing games, bada maza aaya (it was so much fun)," Ayan smiled brightly.

Arnav made a jealous expression, "Just because I scolded you doesn't mean you go around and make other people your elder brother, okay?"

"Haan bhai.. I'm just calling him bhai out of respect like I call Khushi didi too," Ayan said cheekily.

"Hmm," Arnav looked at him suspiciously, "He just knows how to play games, I know how to develop games too," he said with jealousy tone.

"Tension na lo mere Ash.. this Pikachu will never let any Ritchie take your place in his life," Ayan said, with a sweet smile as he pulled Arnav's cheek teasingly.

"You better remember your promise.. you're my Pikachu only," Arnav said, in a possessive tone, messing with Ayan's hair affectionately.

"Chalo, since we have time and as a compensation, I'll buy you news shoes," Arnav said.

Ayan readily agreed as they started heading towards the shop, when they heard, Khushi calling Arnav.

Arnav stopped in his track as he turned back to look at her, coming running to him with a worried look.

"Arnav ji," she reached them, "Where are you going?"

"Relax Khushi.. we didn't give up of watching the movie," he smiled seeing her panicked look, "I just thought to buy Ayan new shoes. So we're going to see that.."

"Oh okay," Khushi nodded in acknowledgement. She stood still waiting for Arnav to ask her to join them. But he didn't.

Aman came back and he asked Aman to join them, but not her. They walked away, and she watched their retreating figure, her face fell.

"Stop feeling bad Khushi. Arnav ji has his own life, his family and his circle of friends.  Just because he made you his friend, doesn't need he will have to baby sit you all the time," Khushi scolded herself for behaving like this. She walked back to Lavanya and NK.

After sometime, her phone vibration caught her attention as she excused herself and checked her WhatsApp, only to see Arnav's message. He sent her two pictures of wrist watches and asked her to choose one.

Khushi stared at her phone for a minute before she replied to him. She was still upset with him for leaving her, even though, she tried to make herself understand she shouldn't be upset with him over such a trivial issue.

Khushi: None.

Arnav: Kyu? Accha nahi laga?
Arnav: Wait.. I'll send you other options then.

Khushi: No need Arnav ji.
Khushi: I don't want it. I have my wrist watch.

Arnav: I know you already have it. But I just wanted to gift you one.. 😔

K

hushi felt her heart ache staring at the sad emoji he sent. But she's the one who should be upset with him for leaving her alone. She didn't reply. She didn't know what to reply. In a minute, she received another message.

Arnav: I'm coming to get you. Maybe if you see the other watches in the store, you will like it.

Khushi: Okay.

She couldn't stop herself from smiling. Finally he remembered she existed too. Otherwise in the car, he didn't even talk or look at her. He's just interacting with Aman and Ayan today.

He came running to her, holding her hand in hurry, he dragged her with him, "We've to be quick.. the movie is going to start in few minutes."

Khushi didn't register half the word he said as the moment he held her hand, her world stopped.. her heart skipped a beat.. she felt as if someone wrapped a warm blanket on her freezing body.. with a calm and gentle smile playing on her lips, she let herself be guided by him.

Pal ek pal mein hi thamsa gaya...

Time stopped in a single moment

Tu haath mein haath jo de gaya

Once you gave your hand in my hand

Chalun main jahaan jaaye tu

(Now) I’ll go wherever you’d go

Daayein main tere baayein tu..

I’ll be on your right side, you’d be on my left side

Hoon rut main haawain tu..

I am the season you’re the seasonal wind

Saathiya...

Oh beloved

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

While Aman went to buy popcorns, burgers and cold drinks for everyone before the movie starts. Arnav was waiting for Khushi and Ayan to decide which wrist watch they want. 

Khushi realized after she reached the shop, that Arnav wanted to buy same wrist watch for the three of them. He said he and Ayan  had matching wrist watch set, so he thought to include her too now. Khushi was overwhelmed. This man literally taking care of her as if she's his real family. He makes sure to include her in small yet significant moments of his life.

Now she felt stupid for getting upset with him over such a small thing and responding him in such a rude way when they're chatting on WhatsApp.

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

Sometime later..

They're sitting in same row to watch the movie about to start.

Much to her relief, Khushi was sitting in middle between Arnav and Ayan. She was surrounded by her little family, by people she trusts and feels comfortable with.

On Ayan's side, NK and Lavanya were sitting next to each other. And Aman was sitting next to Arnav.

Khushi took off her old wrist watch as she tried to wear the new one on her own and failed miserably. Arnav watched her struggle with her new watch.

He extended his hand, "Give it to me. I'll help you wear it."

Khushi sighed in defeat as she handed her watch to him and extended her hand to him. Arnav helped her wear her the watch and she looked at him smiling gratefully, "Thank you Arnav ji."

"You don't need to thank me for this."

"I do.. not only for this, but everything you've been doing for me. Thank you so much Arnav ji. I don't know what I did to deserve a friend like you.. aapka dil bohot bada hai.. aap sach mein ek toota taara hai meri zindagi mein jo meri har khwaish ko pura karta hai (you've a big heart.. you're really a shooting star in my life that fulfills my every wish)," she spoke her heart out, getting emotional.

"Bas kar pagli.. rulayegi kya? (Stop it girl.. will you make me cry now?)" he wiped his fake tears dramatically making Khushi laugh at him.

He smiled too. Turning his head to the big screen, he hide his real tears. The truth is he did get emotional listening to her words. He is confused about his feelings for Khushi right now, he doesn't know if he was quick to declare love what could possibly be an infatuation, attraction from his side. But Khushi is special to him, he will never deny it. This girl is really special to him.

While watching the movie, Tum Kya Mile song was playing on screen and Khushi has no idea why she was watching and imagining herself and Arnav in the place of Alia and Ranveer. Seems like her conversation with Lavanya about crushes, is showing its effect on her now.

She rubbed her eyes constantly to wake her up from her dream land. When she hesitantly turned her head to look at Arnav, she saw he was nodding off.

His head was falling and before it could disturb his sleep, she asked Ayan to switch the seat with her so Arnav could rest his head on Ayan's should and sleep comfortably.

Ayan agreed to switch his seat with her. He helped his brother to rest his head on his shoulder and continued watching the movie. Khushi was satisfied seeing him sleep soundly.

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

Teaser:

"What do you think? I would take advantage of you.. that's why you changed seat with Ayan?" Arnav asked hurt.

"No, Arnav ji."

"Then why did you switch seat with Ayan?"

"Because.. I.. I .. I've my.. limits."