Nandkishore Gupta read the report given by the private detective agency regarding Arnav Singh Raizada. He now knows that, Arnav is the man he is looking for. He placed it in his drawer after taking a glance at Arnav’s pic and left to his home.
*****
Arnav Singh Raizada was driving back to his hotel room in Lucknow after attending his friend’s wedding. It was cold night, suddenly he saw a man standing beside the roadside and signaling him to stop the car. At first, he was reluctant as it is a deserted road, but soon he understood that the man had injuries he decided to stop that car. He also noticed his red car, which is in a pathetic condition. Arnav stopped the car near that man.
“Please help me, somebody kidnapped my sister, and I have to save her.”
“Come on get in”
He started the car
“Do you know where they took your sister?” Arnav asked while increasing the speed.
“Yeah, it is the godown near that river area”
“Are you sure?”
“I am damn sure. Please make it fast”
Within few minutes, they are near that godown.
“I will also come with you.” Arnav said as they exited the car.
They saw few men with guns standing outside the goddown door.
“We have to get inside somehow,” said that man to Arnav. They looked around and saw a way. Both of them get inside.
“You go inside, I will tackle these men.” Said Arnav
“No, I will tackle these men. Can you please get inside and help my sister?” Arnav nodded his head.
Arnav was about to move when he heard him say.
“Please don’t tell Khushi anything about me.,” the man said
“Khushi?” Arnav asked
“Khushi is my sister. Just get out of here and take her with you. She does not have anyone. I trust you. Now please go and save her.
Arnav entered the godown and moved inside. He saw a figure tied to a chair. There was no one around her. He moved near to her.
Khushi saw a figure walking up to her. She raised her head and about to speak before Arnav placed a finger on her lips and said.
“shhh, don’t make any voice. I came here to help you. Come on let get out of here.”
He untied the rope and made her stand up.
They moved together, suddenly Arnav felt a punch on his cheek and saw a man standing there holding Khushi by her neck pointing a gun at Arnav. Khushi looked at Arnav then took her dupatta and signaled him. Arnav understood her gesture and wait for the right signal. As Khushi counted three, she raised the dupatta to that man’s face and soon Arnav hit his hand making the gun fell on the ground. Arnav punched him and he fell on the floor unconscious. Somehow, Arshi was able to escape from there in his car. Arnav drove fast, after making sure that, they are far from that area, and he slows down the car then found a sleeping Khushi. He called her out, but no response came from her. Arnav parked the car near the roadside and sprinkled water on her face, still no response. Arnav drove the car to the nearby hospital. He lifted Khushi entered the causality. The doctor checked her and moved her to the ICU.
“What’s patient’s name?”
“Khu…uhh…Kumud” Arnav said not revealing her identity which may help the kidnappers to find her.
“Your name and relationship with the patient, sir?”
“hmmm…..Arnav singhania….relationship…uhh…fri…wife…”
Few minutes later,
Arnav was sitting outside the ICU. He felt a movement near him and found Khushi’s brother sitting next to him.
“How did you reach her? She is in ICU. She is going to be ok.” Arnav said to that man.
“I was just behind you. Yes, she will be ok. Thanks a lot for your help. You saved my titaliya’s life. I wish I could do something for you”
“Hey, it’s not like that. I can understand your feelings. I too have a sister. Anyway, I am Arnav Singh Raizada.”
“Nandkishore Gupta…call me NK”
“Who tried to kidnap her and why?”
“Shyam Manohar Jha, son of a MLA. He is after my titaliya. He is such a womanizer and his nasty eyes fell on Khushi. He threatened whoever came with the proposal for Khushi.”
“Why didn’t you try to move from here?”
“We tried that, but that scum burg and his men are not allowing us to move anywhere.”
The nurse came there and told them that Khushi is ok and woke up.
“NK, you should go and meet her. I don’t know what happened between you two, whatever it is she is going to forget that when she came to know that you saved her.”
“No Arnav, I can’t. Circumstances are like that. Promise me that you don’t tell her about me.”

Arnav promised reluctantly.
“Please take her from here. The kidnappers may be after her. I will look after everything here and act, as you do not anything about her. Now go and meet her.”
Arnav placed his hand on the knob of the door when he heard,
“Arnav, please look after her. She is precious to me. I will come to meet her.”
Arnav nodded and gave him his card.
*****
Arnav entered the ICU and saw Khushi lying on the bed with a stitch on her head.
“How are you feeling now?”
“Good” Khushi replied
Both of them do not know what to talk. It was Khushi who broken the silence between them.
“Thank you for helping me. If you didn’t …”
Khushi could not complete the sentence, every events that happened rushed into her mind.
“Shhh…its ok….you are safe…don’t thank me. I would have done the same if it were any other girl. Ummm, you take rest.”
“I have something to ask. Why this hospital people addressing me as Kumud?”
“I don’t want risk your life by revealing your name. The kidnappers will surely on the way to find us. I don’t know your name too”
“ohh…sorry, I am Khushi …Khushi Gupta.”
“Arnav…Arnav Singh Raizada. Here I introduced myself as Arnav Singhania.”
“Thank you Arnav”
“You take rest, I will wait outside”
Khushi got discharge from the hospital at early morning. Arnav want to leave to Delhi as it is not safe for Khushi to be here.
*****
In the car,
“Where do you want to go?” Arnav asked
“I don’t know…I mean I don’t have anyone here. My parents are no more. I have a brother who is working abroad. I don’t want to bother him with these events.” Khushi said averting her eyes from Arnav’s face.
Arnav got confused, why she would say that NK is in abroad. He remembered what NK asked for.
“Khushi, the kidnappers will be after you. It is not safe for you to stay here. Don’t take me wrong, would you mind coming with me to Delhi?”
Khushi looked at him for a few seconds.
“I am not taking advantage of you. If that is my intention I could have done that earlier, you can trust me.” Arnav explained.
After a few seconds,
“I think that’s better. However, what will I do there? Where will I stay?”
“We will find a solution, that’s sure.”
“I hope so…” Khushi smiled at him.
*****
They were travelling to Delhi.
“Khushi, what is your brother’s name? Why did you said not to bother him?”
Khushi was startled with his question, then replied
“my brother’s name is Nandkishore. He is working in USA. If Bhaiyya came to know about this he will leave everything there and come here.” Khushi told Arnav in a painful voice. Arnav sensed the love she had for NK, but he cannot understand what the problem between them is.
“Yeah, let’s not bother him. You can tell all these later. Do you know who the kidnappers are?”
“No…I don’t know them. I was returning back to hostel, when they took me.” Khushi lied.
Arnav looked at her for a second and concentrated on his driving.
*****
They reached Delhi, Arnav arranged a small apartment for her. At first Khushi was reluctant to accept his money, but agreed on a condition that she will pay back him when she gets a job.
Khushi requested Arnav not to reveal about her to his family or anyone. After 2 weeks of searching, Khushi got a job in a firm. Arnav was there as a friend to share her happiness. At first Khushi was hesitant around Arnav, later she started to share things to him. She found a friend in him. She felt guilty for lying to him. She knows that she can trust him, but was afraid to reveal everything.
For Arnav, he liked Khushi. She can be so childish at sometimes. Every moment he spends with her brought a smile. Their golgappe challenges, Khushi’s jelabi adventure, her memories related to Lucknow etc. what irked him was her lies about NK. Whenever he brought the subject, she will try to change the topic. She used to tell him about the call she got from NK. Arnav hope Khushi trust him enough to share her secrets.
With the help of one of his friend, he brought khushi’s things to her apartment.
*****
One day, Arnav was returning from office. He was about to open the door of his car, he heard someone calling his name.
“Arnav”
“NK, you here? I was very eager to meet you”
“I know that, would you mind if we move to any other places.”
“Sure, let’s move to the cafeteria.”
“No…it’s so crowded…I mean somewhere we can talk peacefully.”
“Ok…”
In the car,
“How is Khushi?”
“She is fine and happy. Staying in an apartment & got a job three weeks back.”
“I am glad that she is happy.”
“I want to ask you something. This time you should answer me. What happened between both of you? Whenever I ask about her, she will lie or try to change the topic. Are you both playing some game with me? I do not think that Khushi is someone like that. Then what is it you both are hiding from me?”
“I knew that you are pissed off with all these. We are not playing any game with you. Please give my titaliya a bit time to trust you. She will reveal everything to you. It’s her right to tell you everything, I can’t do that.”
“This is very frustrating, NK. Do you know how it feel when the girl you have feelings for don’t trust you enough to share her issues?” Arnav shouted slamming the brake.
It was NK, who break the silence.
“Arnav, do you like Khushi?” NK asked
It was then Arnav realized what he blunted. Arnav averted his gaze from NK and started the car.
“I think i fell in love with Khushi,” Arnav said without looking at NK.
Silence filled in the atmosphere.
“But, I can’t help feeling so anger and sad whenever she lies at me.” Arnav added after a few moments.
“Arnav, I know that you are a good man & you are someone I wanted for my sister. I know that you will always keep her happy. Khushi had been through a lot. Try to understand her.”
Arnav nodded.
“Can you please stop here?” NK requested.
NK got out of the car,
“Arnav, I am happy that you love my sister. When she reveals everything, do support her”
“I will”
“Thanks for the ride” saying this NK moved from there.
*****
Arshi were sitting in the park with a few people surrounding them. They were talking about talking about their office things and other matters. Suddenly Arnav asked her about NK; as usual, Khushi told him lies.
“You know Khushi you are such a bad liar. We know each other for 3 months; still you find it hard to lie while looking at my face. Why are you doing this?” Arnav asked after reaching his endurance limit.
“What are you saying?” Khushi stammered
“Cut the **** Khushi. You know what I mean. Just tell me the truth, at least trust me.” Arnav raised his voice
“I don’t know what you are saying. I….i…trust you…I am…not…lying…”
“Khushi, I am fed up with your lies regarding NK and those kidnappers.”
“I am not lying Arnav…even if I lie, appko kyun faraq padta hai?”
“faraq padta hai dammit”
“Why?”
Arnav tightly held her shoulder and shouted.
“kyunki I love you dammit” saying this Arnav pushed her away and turn back.

Khushi was stunned to hear this.
‘Arnav loves her’ ‘he loves me’ Khushi thought.
Tears started to flow from her eyes and she run from there without saying anything to Arnav.
Arnav run his fingers through his hair and turn to look Khushi, but she was not there. Arnav closed his eyes and thought,
‘What have I done? How can I confess like that? What would she think about me? It’s just that I lost the control over me’
He tried to call her but calls went unanswered. He left her a message,
<where are you? Are you safe?>
Few seconds later, he got the reply,
<I am in my apartment and safe. Need some privacy>
He understood that she do not want to interact with him now.
*****
Khushi closed the door and slammed on the floor crying.

She does not know what to do. She was in confusion. She knows that she loves Arnav and trust him. However, she is afraid of revealing everything, what if he leaves her after knowing everything.
Khushi’s mobile rang. She knows who is it and cut the call. Later she got a message from Arnav. After replying to him she went to her room
Both of them cannot sleep at night. They kept thinking about each other.