Chapter 8: Was It Love?

"I would like the Italian Pasta with Garlic bread," Arnav said. The waiter noted this down and looked towards Khushi who said, "I'll have the same." The waiter noted it and said, "Your food will be here shortly."

"Khushi look..." Arnav started off, "I am extremely sorry for what happened earlier today and would just like to start fresh."

"Arnav, I already forgave you and realized that it was a mistake, so no need to worry," Khushi said

"Ok. So tell me a bit about yourself, what do you do?" Arnav asked

"We'll, I just finished college and got my degree for fashion designing and have now joined your company, other than that, there's nothing mic happening my life. How about you?" Khushi asked

Arnav paused for a bit, and looked away from her. Khushi realized what she had just said to him, then said, "Arnav I didn't mean it like that, you don't have to say anything."

"No Khushi, it's nothing like that. You already know what happened between Lavanya and me, but that was in the past and I have moved on forward from it. I don't want to live in the past and waste my life."

Just then the food arrived; the waiter set it in front of them and left. Khushi and Arnav both started eating while continuing their little talks about their lives.

"So, where did you go to study? Di mentioned something about you going abroad, and you just came back last week?" Khushi asked him while twirling her pasta in her fork

"Oh, I went to New York to study in fashion design so I could come back and manage AR Design, my dad passed the management over to me ever since I was young, and I would get it when I was older," Arnav said

"Hmm," Khushi said eating some of her pasta, "Where do your parents live? I haven't seen them around?"

"How are you supposed to see dead people?" Arnav replied back jokingly

"Ohh, I'm sorry to hear that. I shouldn't have asked you that, I'm so stupid," Khushi said

"No need to apologize, you didn't know," Arnav said

"Did you like it there? It's probably really crowded in New York," Khushi said

"Yeah, there's a lot of people and it's kind of easy to fit in with such a busy city. The more people there are, the less attention you get attracted to yourself," Arnav said looking back at her.

"So are you one of those shy guys, who doesn't like talking to people and wants to be all by himself," Khushi asked sarcastically raising one of her eye brows up.

"What the?! What do you mean shy? I agree that I'm not a very social person, but I'm not shy at all!" Arnav replied

"You're not social?! Says that man who runs the biggest fashion designing company in the nation and probably has his name printed in the newspaper every day? Puh-leez!" Khushi said while sitting back in her chair.

"Well if that's me, then you're probably a girl who is very talkative, cannot keep quiet for a long amount of time and loves talking to people?" Arnav also asked her sarcastically.

"Kind of, I am very talkative but I like talking to people, not love doing it," Khush retorted back

"What difference does it make? Like and love are the same thing? Aren't they?" Arnav said

"Well, not necessarily," Khushi said

"Huh?" Arnav asked, "What do you mean?"

"If you like something or someone, that means you have a strong attraction towards that/them. But if you love something it's more than like. If you love someone, it means that your every heart beat bets for them, they are the reason you live, you cannot imagine a day without them, you want to grow old with them, have kids with them and spend the rest of your life with them," Khushi said, "Like you said you were in love with Lavanya? Right?"

If this is what love was, then Arnav never really was in love with her. It was just the concept they both had since they were young about getting married, that was always there.

"Well, now that you say it like that'..I don't think I was really in love with Lavanya," Arnav confessed

"So what was all that'?" Khushi asked him

"Well, like I told we wanted to get married since we were younger, and I took that literally, so it wasn't really love that I felt for her'" Arnav said

"There's always a first for everything and hopefully you'll find the right girl someday," Khushi said

"And by the way, how do you know so much about love? Are you in a serious relationship with someone?" Arnav asked curiously

"What is it with people wanting me to be in a relationship?! First my parents were getting on me earlier and now you?" Khushi retorted

"Woah! Woah! I didn't mean it anything like that," Arnav said

"And to answer your question, no I'm not in a relationship nor I have been in one ever," Khushi said

"Never?" Arnav asked surprised that she never dated before

"I have been asked by guys, but I refused them all because I don't want my heartbroken and I want it to be forever," Khushi said with a dreamy smile one her face

"So still looking for your Mr. Perfect?" Arnav asked

"I guess so," she replied

The waiter had arrived again to place their dessert on the table.

"You bothmake a great couple," he said before walking off.

Hearing the waiter's words, Khushi felt the water in her mouth burst out. Arnav himself choked on his garlic bread and felt cold water splashing on his face, he looked up to see Khushi who had just emptied all the contents of her mouth on him.

Khushi stared at Arnav with eyes as wide as saucers, her hands went to cover her open mouth. Arnav couldn't help but to laugh at her expression.

"What are you laughing at?" she asked

"No, nothing," he replied

"No, tell me. Is their something in my hair?" Khushi asked while running her hands through her hair

"No, it's just your facial expression was too funny," and he started laughing again

"HAWW! Here I am feeling bad for what I just did and you are laughing at me?" Khushi said a bit annoyed

"Sorry, excuse me for a second. I'm gonna go clean up," Arnav said as he got up and made his way to the bathroom

A couple minutes later, Arnav came back with his coat off, and only a three-piece-suit on. He sat back con on his seat only to find Khushi dreamingly staring at something in the center. He looked and noticed there was an old couple who was dancing there.

Suddenly an idea struck him, he got up and stood next to her

"Khushi?" he asked but no reply

"Khushiii?" he tried again but no luck. He took his hand and waved it infront if her, "Hello? Khushi to earth?"

"Huh?" Khushi looked back at him startled, "Sorry," she said

Arnav extended his hand forward but Khushi just looked at him with a confused face.

"Dance?" he asked. Khushi was to shocked to have him ask, so she just nodded her head. Arnav moved forwards, grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor.

Arnav said and placed one hand on her waist and took the other hand in his own. Khushi felt a shiver run down her spine as husband made contact with her skin. She automatically moved her hand and rested it on his shoulder.

The music started and Arnav swayed them to the rest of the music

"Arnav I don't know how to dance really," Khushi said

"Just follow my lead and don't do anything," Arnav replied as the beat of the music began to increase. The both started moving there feet a bit faster and saying more

"I didn't know you could dance," she said

"I took dance classes for fun in my free time while I was in New York," Arnav said as he spun her around

"Oh-ho! So the great business man is also a secret dancer?" Khushi asked him while coming back into his arms

"Uh. You could put it like that," Arnav said trying to ignore her eyes as his face got hotter. Then Khushi realized--

"You're blushing?!?!" Khushi exclaimed and some heads turned towards them. Arnav quickly placed his hand over her mouth, "Don't shout it out to the whole world! I have a reputation at stake. It was just a dare my friend asked me to do. And don't tell anyone in the family; otherwise they won't stop teasing me about it." Khushi nodded her head, but Arnav kept his hand on her mouth. He was staring into her eyes and moving slowly to the music. Both of them were lost in each other's eyes to realize when the song had ended.

Arnav suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. Then again, finally he turned around to see who it was.

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