Anjali lie down on her bed, recalling everything that happened today. She is frustrated by everything happened in her life. She was happy when she got a little brother. She used to be glued to him and protected him. As she grew up, she felt left out by her parents as they were busy in taking care of Arnav. All her relationship crumbled down as soon as the boy find out that Arnav is her brother. Slowly she started to go away from being the affectionate sister of Arnav.

She remembered all these times she sat besides him in the hospital. From the day he has born, he spend a lot of his days in the hospital till he is nine year old. All those surgeries helped him to lead a normal life with his abnormalities. She felt like a selfish b*t*h for behaving like that when all he done was loving her. A sob erupted from her throat as she remembered their childhood. How he used to give her wild flower bouquet, how he used to wait for her to get back from school, how he saved each and every chocolates he got so that he can share it with her, how he tried to help her when she fell ill, how he told her that she is his best friend. Anjali wondered what happened to her, how did she changed into the lady she is now.

She went to his room and didn't found him there.

"Maa, where is chote?" She asked her mother.

"You adopted brother just went out. He will be back after finishing his work in the farm." Ratna used the same words against her which pained her.

'If it hurt her to hear him being called as her adopted brother, then how would he had felt when she annouced that in front of them??' Anjali hated herself and went to her room.

*******

At night
Anjali entered the Arnav's room and saw him engrossed in a book. She called him and he didn't react to her. She saw him hearing aid placed on the table and walked towards him. She placed her hand on his shoulder making him turn his head towards her.

"Di, you here?" He said plugging the hearing aid and adjusting his specs.

"I want to talk to you chote."

"Is it about what happened earlier?" He asked and she lowered her head, as tears started to roll down from her eyes.

"Di, I'm not angry on you. Yes I was hurt when you said like that, but I know why you said that. You have suffered a lot because do me, all your relationships went down because of me. If being you adopted brother gives you get a bright future, I don't mind doing that. That's the least I can do for you."

"Chote, I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"Di I told you na, it's ok. In rakshabandhan, you always tie a dhaga on me which implies that it's my duty to protect my sister. All these year, you were the one who protected me, you scarified a lot for me while you were supposed to have fun. I want to compensate all those time you missed while being with me. I'm sorry that, I didn't understand you. I was too much busy in my own world that I forgot that you have a world outside me. I'm really sorry di. You must have really felt left out all these years. I know how that feels. I don't want you to feel that anymore. I want you to be happy. Have a life of your own where there will be someone who will take care of you like a princess." Anjali hugged her brother and cried. Tears roll down from his eyes too.

"I failed to be your sister chote... I have become selfish while all you wanted was my happiness." She cupped his face and wiped away her brother's tears.

"No di, you are not a failure. You are the only friend I had when everybody treated me like a ugly duckling. You fought with everyone who treated me badly. Everybody is selfish in this world di. Even I'm selfish about our family and my farm." He consoled her.

"You are a good man chote. Mujhe meri khushi mili ya na Mili, tumhe zaroor tumhari Khushi mile.[ Even if I get my happiness or not, you will surely get your happiness.]"

"I'm happy with what I have now."

"Dekhna chote, ek din tumhari zindagi mein tumhara Khushi aayegi. Voh mere chote ko der zara pyaar karegi. [See chote, one day your happiness will surely find you and will love you so much.]

"Even if such a crazy girl come to me, I know how to make her run away from me. I just need to show her my face and she will run away without even turning back."

"She won't run away Arnav. She will love the real you not only your face. She will see the kind and good man in you and love you like you have never imagined to be loved."

"You are reading too much of romantic novel di, aren't you not working in your office??" Arnav teased his best friend cum sister.

"Yeah tease me as much as you want, but what I said is the truth. I just have to wait and see who that lucky girl is."

"Then she would be the unluckiest girl. Anyway tell me, did you like that guy?" He said wanted to divert the topic. He know that, having a normal life like other isn't going to be happen in his life. He is content with what he has now.

"He seems to be a good guy. Let's see how it goes. Now come with me, we are going to make something how we used to be" Anjali commented.

"Di, it's already late."

"So what?? We always used to cook something together. Now come on choice." Saying this she dragged him to the kitchen. They talked to each other while preparing the small cake.

*****

Anjali opened the door and found a girl who is in her early twenties standing in front of her.

"Is this Arnav's home?"

"Yup, you know my brother?"

"Yup I know him. He gave me a lift yesterday. I'm Khushi, I live five houses away from here." She introduced.

"Ohh...he had told me about it. I'm his elder sister, Anjali. Are you here to meet him?"

"Yup, is he here?"

"No, he went to his farm. Maybe you can go and meet him there."

"Sure Anjaliji, it's nice meeting you." Anjali gave her the address and Khushi went to his farm.

******

Arnav heard someone calling his name and get up.

"Hai, remember me??? Khushi, your neighbour."

"Ohh...how did you find my farm?" He asked wondering why she is here.

"Your sister gave me the address. Wow, you have a big farm. I feel like singing and dancing in the middle of all these flowers. You know like the classic Bollywood scene where the heroine run with her dupatta flying high." She walked towards him while admiring the orchid flowers around her.

"Why are you here?"

"Aren't you happy to see me? We are friends Arnav. So what are you doing here?" She asked looking at the half-filled plastic container for planting the saplings.

"Can I help you?" She kneels down and took the container in her hand.

"Why are you still standing there Arnav? Show me how it is done." She tugged at his hand.

"Hmm...sure." He doesn't know what to say to her. She is like a whirlwind who just do what she felt is right. He isn't accustomed to any other girl's company apart from his sister. So he doesn't have an idea what he should say or not. So he started to tell her how to plant the orchids in the container.

"This is very easy. Where are you going to put it?" She proudly looks at the cone.

"We can keep it there." He pointed at the ropes tied to the long rode.

"Let me put it there then." She placed the container in between the ropes and admired her work.

"I have never planted an orchid. Arnav do you mind giving a tour to your farm?" She asked him while he tried to grasp the whole situation. She observed his face and understand that she just barged into his private space.

"Ohh no...I'm really sorry for intruding into your privacy. I just got excited by seeing all these flowers and all. I'm really sorry. I must have forgotten me or hated me for my chattering. I'm such a stupid. I..."

"Khushi...stop it...you didn't do anything. Give a small break." He told her.

"Ohh...I'm sorry..." She decided to keep quiet for some time.

"I'm not used to this...that's why I got startled. I don't hate you for your chattering. We are friends, so let's give you a tour of my farm." He said making her smile. They started to walk around his farm. Khushi kept talking about everything under the earth while he listened to her keenly.

"Thanks a lot for the tour Arnav. It was interesting. So do you export these flowers?"

"Not often, sometimes. When I get an order in advance."

"That impressing. Hmm, do you know any good bookstore here?"

"Yup, there is one in the main town."

"Then can you come with me tomorrow. I want to buy some books."

"Hmm...I'm not sure about it." He doesn't know what to reply to her.

"Don't worry, call me tonight and tell me if you are free or not. Now give me your number." Arnav hesitantly told her the number and she gave him a ring.

"Arnav, I'm not going to stalk you using this number." She teased him seeing his expression.

"Hmm...I know that." He answered giving her a smile. He doesn't look dashing handsome, but when he smiled she found that beautiful. There was an innocence in his smile which reflects his pure soul. After chatting for some time, Khushi went to her home.

When he returned home, Anjali teased him in the name of Khushi which he brushed away.

That night she called him and asked about their bookstore outing. Arnav agreed to accompany her and this leads to the most beautiful friendship both of them ever had.

******

From then they used to talk and chat with each other. Arnav likes to talk to her. Most of the time, Khushi will keep on talking while he will be listening to her chattering. Khushi met his family and bonded well. The ten days they spend together were the best. After that, she went to Bangalore and they keep in touch with each other. She came back home after two months.

After a lot of compelling from Khushi, Arnav agreed to meet her family. Her father is a retired officer in a central government office and brother works in a company after completing his studies from abroad. They were a little shocked when they met their daughter's new friend. Akash breathes in relief seeing Arnav, knowing that his sister won't fell for a boy like him.

When he went to Gupta house, he came to know about that Khushi's alliance is fixed with Nandkishore, who is Akash's friend settled in the USA. He doesn't know why he felt disappointed when he came to know about it. Akash showed him NK's pictures telling him how perfect Khushi and NK looked together. For a moment, Arnav felt that Akash is trying to making him feel low by explaining how perfect NK is. He brushed that thought considering him to be her brother. Even though, Khushi has warned her family not to ask any questions regarding his condition and her family didn't take that seriously.

When they were having food, Akash popped up the first question about his condition, followed by her father.

"Are you like this from birth?"

"Yes, I'm born with this disorder."

"Is there any cure for this disease? How did you get this disease?"

"Bhai, first of all, it's not a disease. I'm sorry to say this, but shut your mouth and eat. If you want to take a doctorate in his condition, go and search about Treacher Collins Syndrome." Khushi told her brother in a stern voice.

"Khushi, is the way to talk to your brother?" Her father asked.

"Then tell me, papa, is this the way to behave with a guest?" She countered back while he placed his hand on her to calm her down.

"It happens Khushi, it's not every day we see someone like him. Your brother is just curious."

"Hmm, Mr Gupta, I need to go now. I have left some work on my farm and I should be going now." Saying this he stood up not wanting to create a problem because of him.

"I will see you later Khushi, I would have stayed longer if I don't have any work." He sat turning to them.

"Thanks for the lunch, I had a nice time." He told them and started to move towards the door while she walked behind him. As soon as he reached the gate, she hugged him and cried.

"I'm sorry Arnav... I'm really sorry...I never knew that my family will behave like this with you." She disentangled from their hug.

"It's ok Khushi, I'm used to it. There is no fault in them. It's true that it's not every day that you will see someone like me." He said with a smile.

"Your family adore you a lot. Just don't fight with them for me." He told her and walked away with a heavy heart. Khushi stood there, feeling pathetic of herself and her family.

*******

Arnav entered his room and looked at his face. He removed the specs and hearing aid. He touched his eyes and tried to lift it up a bit to look normal. He filled his mouth full of air to make his face chubby. He takes away his hands from his face and looked at him.

'They won't look perfect with his face. She looks perfect with Nandkishore, they will make a good looking couple.' Arnav thought and lied down on his bed.

He has fallen in love with her for a long time. She never made him feel low about his condition, but only encouraged him to embrace it and love himself. Gradually he fell in love with her knowing that it will only bring him heartbreak.

After sometime Arnav opened his balcony and moved towards his small garden. He found small leaves sprouting from the rose plant.

"So you like jasmine flowers and I like rose flowers." She told him looking at him connecting the pipe to water the plants.

"Nothing new in that Khushi, even my di too like roses. I think most of the girls like roses."

"Well, I like a particular rose, not the one you think. It's the rose we have in our garden Arnav, not the ornamental roses. I like pink roses, it's so natural and beautiful with lots of small petals. Nowadays, I hardly see that flower. Everybody is busy in taking care of those ornamental rose flowers. I had a pink rose plant, but when I went to study it got dried up. I think that rose missed my presence." She giggled at him.

Arnav remembered what she said and poured some water on its bed.

*******

I think this is going to be a five shot. 😝😛