Arnav's apartment. 5:40pm.

Standing at the balcony of Arnav's room, Arnav and Khushi were talking about the beautiful view of the city provided by his room's balcony, when they fell silent for a moment, enjoying the cool breeze lightly touching their faces and refreshing their souls. 

"Arnav ji," Khushi broke the silence, staring at his side and looking a bit hesitant, when she got a slight nod from Arnav, she proceeded, "I don't know if I should ask you this.. but.. I've never seen your father.. nor anyone talking about him at home. What happened to him?"

As soon as she asked about his father, she did notice a slight change in his facial expression even though he tried hard to remain unaffected. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about him," Khushi said politely assuring him that she won't feel bad if he refuses to speak about his father to her. 

"It's nothing like that.. Let's sit first," he said and she readily agreed as they walked to the corner wall of the empty balcony. They sat on the floor next to each other and leaned their backs on the wall with Arnav jokingly asking Khushi to add a swing chair for the balcony on their home shopping list. 

"So you want to know about my father.." he initiated the conversation while absent minded drawing lines on the floor tiles, "We were a happy family or I believed we were a happy family living in Delhi in a huge mansion that looked like a palace.. It was me, Ma, Papa, my Dadi, my elder sister Anjali and my chotu baby Ayan living in that fairy tale like palace. It felt like everything was perfect until my father came home one day and told my mother that he doesn't love her anymore and asked her to leave his house. Turns out that during his business trips, he met another woman, fell in love with her and wanted to start a new life with her, completely erasing from his mind that he had three children as well. From one day to another, our lives changed drastically, from a perfect happy family to a broken family, from running to our father when he reaches home to being kicked out of his house and shifting to a new house, my Nani's house. After my parents got divorced, I never saw my father again.. I really don't know where he is right now Khushi," he ended the story with misty eyes staring down at the floor tiles intentionally as he didn't want Khushi to see how deeply he got affected by talking about something that happened years ago neither did he himself wanted to get this much affected by the simple mention of his father, but he hasn't learned how to control his emotions when it comes to this topic, he always feel betrayed by his father and it pains his heart a lot whenever he thinks that the man who claimed to love his family the most could ever kick them out of the house as if they never meant anything to him. 

Khushi felt sad to hear his father destroyed their happy family by cheating on his mother and then disowning them like this. Being an introvert, she didn't know the right words that could be used as a consolation for him or perhaps she thought just staying silent and being there for him was the right way to console him. He certainly didn't want to hear a long lecture of someone feeling pity of him and making him think they understand the dimension of his pain and what he went through in his life due to the separation of his parents. 

A little hesitantly and awkwardly she moved her fingers in attempt to reach him, forwarding her hand and then withdrawing it within seconds repeatedly out of lack of surety, confidence and comfort on how to react in such situations where a male friend that she never had is showing his vulnerable side to her, she finally garnered courage to place her soft like pearl hand above his, stopping him from drawing lines on the floor tiles. 

Arnav finally looked up to her and she pressed the back of his hand gently as if consoling him, her soft palm touching his hand definitely acted like the pain relief that diminished the pain he felt in his heart. He smiled.. it was a soft and grateful kind of smile, as a reply from the consolation gesture he received from her. 

"I didn't meet your elder sister yet," Khushi spoke intentionally diverting the topic when she saw Arnav's eyes a little bit misty. 

"She is always busy with her job and sasural," Arnav chuckled softly, "But I talk to her and ask her to grant me her free time one day and you'll meet her, her husband Shyam Jha and my little baby Amaya, my three years old niece." 

"Wow.. she's married, has a child and she's working as well," Khushi said admiring the woman and wondering how she managed to balance her personal and professional life. 

"Yes.. because she choose the right life partner for her.. the one who understands that apart from being his wife, she has her own individual identity and her dreams to pursue just like he has.. and they both work for their respective achievements in their career while taking care of their family as well," Arnav said staring at her intently, he was intentionally making sure she understands what he was trying to convey to her through Anjali's story. 

Khushi looked away uncomfortable and a bit angry with him because he knows how much this topic affects her yet he touches it at every opportunity he gets to rub salt on her wounds, she removed her hand from his but he held her hand again and brought their intertwined hands to rest down on the cold floor tiles.

"I know you might hate me or even find me a bad friend for bringing this topic every now and then in our conversations.. but trust me, I just want to motivate you to break your silence and fight for your dreams Khushi.." he said with a genuine concern in his eyes for her. 

"I don't get any motivation by hearing you talk to me like this Arnav ji.. every time we talk about topic, I go back to my room and cry in fear of my future with a stranger whole night okay," she looked back at him with complaining tears in her eyes, she was frowning a little. 

"This is why you need to talk Khushi.. to remove this fear you're growing in your heart.. to understand you've someone to talk about your fears with.. you've someone who's willing to support you when that time you fear the most comes in your life.. I'll be there with you.. but I need you to be willing to say NO to your Dad.. to tell him on his face that you don't want get married to a man you don't know anything about.. and the rest.. I promise I will be there with you to face whatever the consequences your decision brings in your life," he argued back, pressing her hand firmly in an assuring gesture that he will always be there for her. 

Khushi gulped staring at him with her big teary hazel eyes, "And what about the promise-"

"Promises are meant to be broken Khushi!" Arnav rolled his eyes. 

"That means you can also break the promise you just made of being there for me always!" she pointed out with a cute frown adorning her forehead and staring at him with accusing eyes. 

"Yeh toh badi sharp nikli (she turned out to be a sharp girl)," Arnav thought staring at her with now-you-caught me look, he cleared his throat, "Arey my promise is different.. I'm your toota taara na.. I'm here to fulfill your wishes only, so you can trust my promises."

When he saw Khushi not convinced by his explanation, he sighed, "On a serious note Khushi.. no one will hear your silence.. you've to raise your voice to be heard. I know you promised your father to get married to the man he'll choose for you after you complete your studies.. but just stop to think what if you don't like him, then you will forcing him yourself to spend the rest of your life with him when you can convince your father otherwise.. at the end of the day he's your father Khushi..he will understand your position if you try and talk to him.. see you only convinced him to let you study and he sent you here.. because you let your voice be heard by everyone in your house, you fought for your dreams.. that's what you've to do always in your life Khushi. Let your voice be heard by everyone, otherwise they start thinking they have the right to make the decisions of your life!"

"What if Babu ji never forgive me for breaking the promise?" Khushi asked fearfully. 

"Try toh karna padega na Khushi.. (You'll have to try)," Arnav said, "You were also not sure whether he would accept you to study in college but you did try to convince him and you were successful in that also.." 

Khushi gulped as she took her own time to ponder over everything Arnav just said, his words instilled some kind of hope and courage in her heart to talk to her father. When she finally reached to a conclusion, she looked up to him with hopeful eyes, "You will be there for me, right?"

Arnav smiled brightly. Was that a yes he was hearing from her? He raised their joined hands to his chest, "Yes.. ye ek toota taara ka promise hai.. ekdum pakka wala (this is a shooting star's promise.. a sure one)."

"Then I'll try to speak with Babu ji.. after I finish my studies.. I'll talk to him," she said more as confirmation to herself after getting the much needed motivation and support from her friend, her toota taara Arnav. 

"Great.." Arnav smiled widely, nodding his head as if saying she took the right decision now. 

Although she still fears her father's reaction when he gets to know she's not willing to marry the person he choose for her as promised by her, Khushi was feeling much lighter and tension-free after talking to her friend regarding her future. Perhaps he was right, the more they talk about what she fears the most, the more she gets to see things in a positive light and realize that it's not all doors are closed for her, there might be an open window for her that brings a solution to the problems in her life. 

She looked at him and realized she had been holding his hand for long time now, suddenly conscious about this, she wanted to free herself from his hand hold but didn't do it immediately as she was still trying to find a way to withdraw her hand in a way that wouldn't look rude or awkward to him. Arnav looked at her glancing at their hands held together, moving her fingers delicately in attempt to free her hand from his and then hesitating to actually do it, he smiled a little and made it easy for her by casually letting go of her hand while initiating a casual conversation with her. 

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

Raizada Apartment. 7:05pm.

Arnav walked inside his room and closed the door, then he turned to look at Ayan studying on his bed, he walked to sit on his bed with a bag on his hand, he removed a packet of lay's potato chips and threw it to Ayan's bed. Ayan stopped reading his book as he looked ahead only to see his favorite chips on the bed, he smiled widely grabbing the packet and looked back at Arnav excitedly, "Thank you bhai!" he opened the packet and started munching his chips, "By the way, aaj kis Khushi mein mujhe lay's chips ka treat de rahe ho? (What's the special reason to treat me with lay's chips?)

"Khushi ki khushi mein (Khushi is the reason)," Arnav smiled, "Guess what?"

"Don't tell me you proposed Khushi didi so soon and she miraculously accepted your proposal," Ayan asked shocked, he stopped eating waiting in anticipation for his brother's answer.

"It's too early to propose her Ayan," Arnav rolled his eyes, "Today I managed to convince her to try and talk with her father regarding her marriage when the right times comes.. make him understand that she has the right to choose her life partner and not feel forced to marry anyone because of a promise." 

"Wow.. I mean how?" Ayan blinked his eyes in disbelief, "How did you convince Khushi didi to confront her father?"

Arnav smirked, "Through my magic hand!" he got up and headed to the bathroom leaving a puzzled Ayan behind, munching his chips wondering what his brother meant by that answer. 

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

Sometime later..

Khushi was taking a chickpea curry bowl to dining room when she found Ratna on her way who had walked out of her room to join them in dining room for dinner, Ratna smiled at her while patting her head gently, "Did you like our new home?"

Khushi nodded her head smiling, staring at Ratna with respect and admiration for the woman in front of her who raised her three kids by taking up the role of their mother and father as well, "Yes, I loved it.. and it's going to look even more beautiful after the renovation."

They reached at the dining room and Khushi kept the bowl on the table and then hurried towards the kitchen again to get the other dishes, Ratna looked in disbelief at her two sons sitting comfortably waiting for dinner to be served, "Don't you two have any shame to see Khushi setting up the table for dinner and not help her in doing it, just sitting here and waiting for food to eat?"

Arnav and Ayan looked at each other and then turned their heads to their mother with why-are-you-attacking-us-now look. Ratna looked at them with narrowed eyes and said sternly, "Chalo shabash.. go and help Khushi now."

Arnav and Ayan got up from their seats and walked lazily in direction of the kitchen earning a strong pat on their backs by their mother who pushed them towards the door to leave the dining room and came back to take her seat shaking her head and chuckling at her sons. 

Akash was feeling embarrassed that he was the only youngster of the house who was actually sat on the dining table waiting for food now, he tried to get up from his seat to help his siblings when Mami angrily pushed him back to his chair and whispered to him, "Where are you goings? Sit backs here quietly.. that's not your jobs, it's their jobs.. you're malik (owner) of this house.. koi kaam karne ki jaroorat nahi hai (you don't need to work)."

"Ma!" he whined but after getting a glare from Manorama, he sighed and looked away and sat quietly waiting for his food. 

Meanwhile, Arnav and Ayan entered the kitchen looking like two sulking kids who were given a task to complete by their mother and they had to stop playing with their favorite toys for it. 

"No one ever ask Akash bhai to do anything.. it's always us!" Ayan pouted. "Exactly.." Arnav agreed. 

Khushi raised her brow staring at both questioningly, "Kya hua? Kuch chahiye? (What happened? Do you need something?)" she asked standing near the stove reheating the vegetable curry cooked for the lunch as Manohar wanted to eat it. 

"Ma ordered us to help you set the table for dinner," Arnav said as he walked to one of the kitchen cabinets and took out few plates from it and then gave space for Ayan to take the glass cups. 

Khushi walked to them hurriedly, "Leave it Ayan.. I'll do it."

"It's okay Khushi didi.. let us help you otherwise Ma will beat us up with her chappals (slippers) and ladies chappals are very dangerous!" Ayan said while his eyes fell on the blue glass cups, he raised his hand to grab those earning a smack on his head from behind by his brother, "New set of glass cups bought by none other than your Mami. So if you love your life and don't want your Sunday night to end up in a tragedy one, that too a night before your exams then don't dare to even touch it."

Khushi giggled watching them. The two brothers always give her a reason to smile whenever she's near them. 

"Ouch bhaii!" Ayan whined taking out the usual glass cups and then turned to Khushi excitedly showing to her that he knows how to carry four cups in one hand, "Khushi didi see.. do you know how to do this?"

"Arey waah!" Khushi exclaimed watching him demonstrate her how the trick is done, "No.. I don't know how to do it."

"Don't be too shocked Khushi.. it's easy, not a big deal!" Arnav said playfully mocking Ayan who glared at him in response. 

"It's a big deal Arnav ji.. not everyone can do it!" Khushi smiled standing by Ayan's side as she knew Arnav was teasing him. 

But before they could continue their banter, Nani called out for them asking them to hurry up as everyone was hungry now. 

Ayan and Arnav hurriedly walked to leave the kitchen with the plates and cups in their hands.  Ayan promised to teach Khushi the trick on the way while she rushed to turn off the stove. 

Two or three minutes later, she found herself leaving the kitchen holding the vegetable curry in her hands and heading towards the dining room when she found Arnav coming towards her. He took the bowl from her hand and she immediately said, "Arnav ji I can do this much.. you two already helped me.. Ratna aunty won't scold you two now, let me take it." 

"Excuse me, right now I'm the son scared of my mother's dangerous chappals.. I'm Khushi's friend who came to help her to take this vegetable curry to my mama who's waiting for his food like an hungry lion now," he winked at her and headed back to the dining room. Khushi followed him with a smile playing on her lips, having someone like Arnav as her friend in Delhi is turning out to be one of the most special and beautiful moments of this phase in her life.