Chapter 3: Falling

 

Oh Arnav thought to himself, is could he forget, "teek hai, carry on" Arnav said as his phone began to ring. Still having his attention on his phone, Arnav wasn't paying any attention to where he was heading.

"Arre, watch where you're going!" came a voice from a worker above who was on a ladder with a flower basket in his hands. Just then Arnav felt himself bumping in to something, or was it someone?

"Ahhh" came a voice from the figure that he had just bumped into. She closed her eyes together waiting for the impact of the hard floor coming in contact with her as she felt herself falling backwards. Why is it taking so long for me to fall, she thought to herself. Arnav automatically placed his hands around her waist, preventing her from falling down.

She opened her eyes to be staring at the most beautiful brown ones she'd ever seen. Arnav looked at the sight in front of him in his arms; her hair was in a ponytail, with some strands across her face due to the fall, light brown eyes, lips the color of a pink rose, she was barely wearing any makeup but had a natural glow to her face. Who was this girl? He asked himself.

"Khushiji you're here," said Anjali from behind Arnav. Arnav quickly pulled her up into a standing position and stepped away. Khushi straightened herself up and fixed her dress. This is when Arnav noticed that she was wearing a pastel yellow knee length dress, with a back waist belt, making her like like a doll that had just walked off of the runways. She does have a good taste in fashion, he thought to himself.

"Yea Di" Khushi replied to Anjali trying to avoid Arnav's eyes who were moving on her body from top to bottom.

"Great! I'd like you to meet someone'' Anjali said while grabbing Khushi's hand and moving towards Arnav.

"Khushi, this is Arnav'.." Anjali said while tilting her head towards Arnav "'.my brother, the one I had told you about." Told her about? What does that mean? They had talked about him before? Arnav thought to himself.

Anjali placed her hand on Arnav's shoulder and said, "And Chotte, this is Khushiji, Payal's best friend and sister."

"Hi, nice to meet you," Khushi said while finally glancing at him for probably the first time since she had gotten there. "Same," Arnav replied.

"Di, I'll be going off to office now," Arnav told Di as he began making his way towards the door.

"Make sure you're back here on time, the party starts at 7,"

Anjali yelled behind him.

"OK!!" Arnav replied back while making his way towards the car. He had a smile on his face, but why? Maybe it was just the girls'what was her name? Oh yeah..Khushi'maybe her name was having an effect on him. What the?! He thought. Why was he thinking about that girl? And drove off to his office.

*Later that night -- time for engagement party*

"Khushiji, the guests will be arriving soon, why don't you get changed now," Anjali told Khushi

"Ok Di, but I didn't bring anything to change into," Khushi replied

"Don't' worry Beta, I have chosen a lehnga for you and it's upstairs in the guest room. Go and get changed," came a reply from the Nani who was coming down the stairs.

Khushi went up to Nani and gave her a hug, "You are the best Naniji, I will go and get changed right now," Khushi said while making her way up the stairs. She walked into the guest room and quickly got into the lehnga Nani had chosen for her. It was a peach colored lehnga with a silver embroidery. Khushi left her hair open and curled some strands in the front; she applied some lip gloss and a little bit of kohl under her eyes. Happy with her look, she turned off the lights and walked out of her room. Then she realized that she had forgotten her phone in the guest room, so she quickly turned around, only to have her foot get caught in her dupatta.

*5 minutes ago*

Arnav had just reached home and noticed that the whole house was decorated with lights and flowers, it was looking pretty good.

"Chotte, you're home," Anjali said

"No Di, I'm still at the office can't you see?" Arnav said teasing his sister while she slapped him on the shoulder.

"Acha baba, why don't you go upstairs and get freshened then come downstairs," Anjali said.

"Ok Di, but where's everyone else?" Arnav asked

"Aman is with Akash, helping him get ready. Naniji and Mamiji are in the kichen, Payal is upstairs getting ready, Aman and Mamaji went to get the mithai'" Anjali said. Arnav felt like she missed to mention someone but couldn't think of whom.

"Ok Di, I'll go upstairs and get ready," Arnav said and made his way up the stairs. The sight that appeared before him when he reached the top of the stairs made his heart skip a beat.

Khushi was walking towards the stairs in a peach colored lehnga that fitted all or her curves perfectly. Her hair was flying behind her, and eyes shining like the stars. Just then she stopped and abruptly turned around, causing her to lose her balance. Arnav quickly strode towards her and had his arms around her waist before she hit the ground.

Khushi felt herself closing her eyes for the second time that day, realizing that she would hit the floor anytime soon. But before she could, she felt a strong pair of arms go around her naked wait, giving her chills going down her spine and her hands automatically went to grab his shoulders.

Khushi looked into his eyes and realized it was Arnav. Arnav was too lost in her beauty to realize that he had just stood there with her in his arms.

"Um..could you pull me up and let me stand?" Khushi managed to say while still being lost in his eyes.

"Huh?" Arnav asked not having heard a single word that she had uttered.

"Could you let me go'" she managed to say, but this time a whispers

"Sorry" he said while pulling her up in a standing position and moving back, "are you fine?"

"Yea, and thanks, once again," Khushi said

"No problem, "Arnav replied with his signature smirk and walking towards his room. When he glanced back at her before entering his room, he noticed a pink blush appearing on her cheeks, and his smirk turned into a smile.

Khushi went downstairs helped Anjali with making sure that everything was looking fine as the guests started to come. Arnav had gotten dresses and was coming down the stairs when he noticed someone at the door. What the?! He thought to himself. He didn't remember Di telling him that he was also coming.

"Chotte come here, there's a surprise for all of us," Anjali shouted with a smile on her face. Arnav made his way towards Di, who was standing in front of HIM. Just when he saw the figure turning his towards him, Arnav felt himself loosing breath as the person pulled him into a tight hug.

"NANNAV! Mere Bhai! I didn't know I was going to be coming here!" NK said as he let go of Arnav finally letting him breathe.

"What do you mean you didn't know you were coming HERE? Where else were you supposed to go?" Arnav said with a questioning look on his face, wondering how NK had even managed to come here when he 100% remembered that his name wasn't on the guest list at all.

"You both know each other?" came a voice from behind NK and Arnav tiled his head to look at her. There she was, Lavanya, in a navy blue sari, hair curled and a baby in her arms. The baby made Arnav choke up, reminding him that she had gotten married. But no, he wouldn't let her do this to him. He had to get over her. She was a married woman. Any by the way who was he husband, wasn't he suppose to come here today also? He thought.

"Yea, he's our cousin who lives in London," came a reply from Anjali who side hugged Lavanya at the same time.

"WHAT?! He's you're cousin, are you serious?!!" exclaimed Lavanya with a smile on her lips.

"Yea'so what's cool about that?" Arnav asked trying to hint at where she was taking his conversation.

"Well, Nannav mere bhai. It seems like you guys already know my wife Lavanya," NK said while placing on hand on Lavanya's waist and another on her shoulder, pulling her in for a side hug.

Why couldn't he stop calling him Nannav? Arnav thought. And then it hit him WIFE?! Did he eriously just say WIFE? Lavanya had ended up falling for his cousin and marrying him?! They also had a daughter?! Well his was just great, the girl who he loved, wait scratch that, LOVED, was married to his cousin, making her his Bhabi?  This was just great Arnav thought and then said, "Di, I have to go take an important call."

No, this couldn't be happening. How could she do this? This was going to be much worse to handle than he had thought. Arnav grabbed a bottle of beer and made his way towards the poolside. He sat there by the side of the pool, drinking from the bottle, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

 

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