Chapter-5
"Guess what Guys?" Lavanya asked all closing the novel she was reading.
"What?" both Khushi and Payal asked together.
"We're in Shimla, yet we aren't adventuring"
"La, we came for a wedding not for a holiday, remember?"
"Yeah Chamkili, I know. But we haven't gone for any holiday together. Except for few movies and outings around Delhi while in College Why can't we go now?"
"La, But where will we go now? I mean..wedding is just three days away"
"Payal relax. Just for 2 hours max. Let's go to the snow field and we will return back in the afternoon. Sangeet is in the evening, right? So we'll be back before that"
"WOW La! That's a good plan. I'm super excited. But do you think Aunty will allow us?" Khushi replied excitedly.
"She will. Come let's get ready first and Payal, pass message the boys even"
"Are they coming with us?" Khushi asked with a doubtful face.
"Of course, Chamkili. Why are you having a sad face? C'mon cheer up Babe!"
"Aunty, it would be more comfortable there than here. Please aunty we'll be back by afternoon" Lavanya explained Payal's Mom.
"Hmmm.. Okay. But come soon hun. We should get ready for the Sangeet"
"Sure Aunty. Thank you" Lavanya hugged and Khushi too thanked Payal's Mom.
"I will ask the driver to drop you all"
"Ma, I'll drive. No need of driver" Payal replied her Mom.
"Ok then.. Be safe"
"Sure..Bye Mom!" "Bye Aunty" With that they all left the home.
"Of course, Bro! They are coming.."
Before Akash could continue, Payal already reached there.
"Guys pull up your cardigans and come let's go" Lavanya screamed in excitement.
"Yayy! This is awesome Guys" saying that Khushi jumped out of the car to feel the God nature.
"Pagal you drove up to here?"
"Yes Akash'but you are going to park it" saying that Payal threw car keys to Akash.
"NK.. Again photographs?"
"Lavanya, see how beautiful this place is!"
"Yeah' and now still more beautiful" with that she threw handful of ice ball on NK.
"Gosh Lavanya. You are.." NK threw the ice back on Lavanya.
"What NK? Lavanya is?" Khushi asked and threw another handful of ice on him.
"Khushi" when she turned back to see why Akash was calling her, he already threw ice on her.
"Payal.. What was that? Ask him na" Khushi threw another handful of ice on Payal.
"ASR..Look there" Lavanya threw on Arnav making throw ice back on her. Lavanya being clever ducked and the ice directly fell on Khushi.
"You.." Khushi threw ice back on Arnav out of anger but soon the entire atmosphere changed with everyone throwing ice on each other and NK clicking the pictures of everyone occasionally. And finally they all took a group picture with extreme happiness on every one's faces. Though they were there for just half an hour, they all felt equally happy like reviving the college days back.
"Hey I guess we need to leave.." Payal rushed and soon the girls left the place leaving the boys alone.
Later in the evening..
"Are you ready Khushi?"
"Yeah! I am ready"
"You remember everything, right? And you ASR?"
Both nodded their heads while Akash and Payal came there.
"What's going on here Guys? And Khushi, why are you wearing this red Sari? You were about to wear a Lehenga na?" Payal asked doubtfully as she felt her friends were hiding something from her.
"Nothing Payal. You go, everyone must be waiting for you both. We will be joining you shortly" Arnav answered.
After they left, Lavanya wished luck to both Arnav and Khushi and asked them to wait near backstage.
"Lavanya, don't confuse the people. Let's better show them. Lights off please" NK interrupted Lavanya's speech and made way for Arnav-Khushi on stage.
"So presenting you all the love story of Akash and Payal"
Both Akash and Payal looked each other in shock and when they saw the sight in front of them when lights were switched on, they were dumbfounded. Both Arnav and Khushi were standing on stage holding each other. As the music started, they first performed for "Yeh Ladka Hai Deewana" from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai showing Akash-Payal's initial friendship and later a slow dance on instrumental of KKHH Gazebo track. Finally they ended the dance together in 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' pose as instructed by Lavanya.
Everyone stood and gave a standing applause to them. As soon as the dance was over, Akash went towards Arnav and hugged him and Payal ran towards Khushi. Soon NK and Lavanya joined them and they had a group hug. Arnav smiled at Khushi as she looked at him.
"So the next surprise for the night is the slideshow" NK announced and played the same. The slideshow had pictures of both Akash and Payal from their childhood to the present. All the friends sat next to each other and teased the couple seeing the pictures. Khushi enjoyed everything until a picture appeared on screen. She was totally numb and her body started chilling. Lavanya stood immediately and fast forwarded the slideshow using the remote.
"NK, come with me!" She ordered angrily.
Khushi couldn't control herself and walked towards the lawn not to spoil the party mood.
"Why did you add that picture NK?"
"Lavanya, it was our group picture during our college. What's wrong in it?"
"Are you mad? Khushi's mom and dad are also there in that picture. How can you do that NK?"
"Shit! I'm extremely sorry" NK hit his head looking guilty.
"Just..Just go away NK. I don't want to see you"
"Lavanya, NK. It's okay. I'll go and check her. You both don't argue" Arnav said looking them.
"But ASR? How can you..?"
"I'll take care" saying that Arnav left from there.
**
Everything flashed in front Khushi.
There as expected, he came near her pressing her shoulders calling her name.
**
When both Payal and Lavanya reached their room, they saw Khushi already sleeping with blanket covering till her face with all lights turned off in the room. Only Lavanya knew that Khushi is not sleeping but crying under that blanket. She smiled at Payal saying that they should retire soon as the next day is her haldi. Payal hugged Lavanya for her sangeet and went to the other room to change her dress. Meanwhile, Lavanya tiptoed to the balcony and called NK to know about ASR's condition.
"NK, What is ASR doing? Is he Okay?"
"Don't know Lavanya, but he closed himself in the other room and didn't open the door yet. He always avoids people when he is upset. What happened? Is everything alright?"
"Nothing.. Leave him alone NK"
"Hmmm.."
"And I'm.."
"And you?"
"And I'm really sorry for shouting at you"
"Hey, It's okay La. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have added that picture. Don't know how I absent mindedly added it"
"It's ok NK. Bye Good night!"
"Good Night. Love you!"
"Love you too!"
Disconnecting the phone, Lavanya turned to return back to the room when she saw Payal standing there in front of her. "You have started to hide things from me La! First their dance and now.."
"No Payal. Not at all. We just wanted to surprise you, but NK's one mistake turned everything upside down. I didn't want you all to be upset. It's your wedding.
"What?" both Khushi and Payal asked together.
"We're in Shimla, yet we aren't adventuring"
"La, we came for a wedding not for a holiday, remember?"
"Yeah Chamkili, I know. But we haven't gone for any holiday together. Except for few movies and outings around Delhi while in College Why can't we go now?"
"La, But where will we go now? I mean..wedding is just three days away"
"Payal relax. Just for 2 hours max. Let's go to the snow field and we will return back in the afternoon. Sangeet is in the evening, right? So we'll be back before that"
"WOW La! That's a good plan. I'm super excited. But do you think Aunty will allow us?" Khushi replied excitedly.
"She will. Come let's get ready first and Payal, pass message the boys even"
"Are they coming with us?" Khushi asked with a doubtful face.
"Of course, Chamkili. Why are you having a sad face? C'mon cheer up Babe!"
**
"Aunty, Please!" Khushi asked once again.
"But Khushi Beta, I can call the beautician to home. Why are you stressing yourselves?""Aunty, it would be more comfortable there than here. Please aunty we'll be back by afternoon" Lavanya explained Payal's Mom.
"Hmmm.. Okay. But come soon hun. We should get ready for the Sangeet"
"Sure Aunty. Thank you" Lavanya hugged and Khushi too thanked Payal's Mom.
"I will ask the driver to drop you all"
"Ma, I'll drive. No need of driver" Payal replied her Mom.
"Ok then.. Be safe"
"Sure..Bye Mom!" "Bye Aunty" With that they all left the home.
**
"Dude they will reach here at anytime, Lavanya messaged me" NK said happily looking at the road waiting for the girls.
"NK, Do you seriously think that they will come" Arnav asked feeling stupid about their plan."Of course, Bro! They are coming.."
Before Akash could continue, Payal already reached there.
"Guys pull up your cardigans and come let's go" Lavanya screamed in excitement.
"Yayy! This is awesome Guys" saying that Khushi jumped out of the car to feel the God nature.
"NK.. Again photographs?"
"Lavanya, see how beautiful this place is!"
"Yeah' and now still more beautiful" with that she threw handful of ice ball on NK.
"Gosh Lavanya. You are.." NK threw the ice back on Lavanya.
"What NK? Lavanya is?" Khushi asked and threw another handful of ice on him.
"Khushi" when she turned back to see why Akash was calling her, he already threw ice on her.
"Payal.. What was that? Ask him na" Khushi threw another handful of ice on Payal.
"ASR..Look there" Lavanya threw on Arnav making throw ice back on her. Lavanya being clever ducked and the ice directly fell on Khushi.
"You.." Khushi threw ice back on Arnav out of anger but soon the entire atmosphere changed with everyone throwing ice on each other and NK clicking the pictures of everyone occasionally. And finally they all took a group picture with extreme happiness on every one's faces. Though they were there for just half an hour, they all felt equally happy like reviving the college days back.
"Hey I guess we need to leave.." Payal rushed and soon the girls left the place leaving the boys alone.
Later in the evening..
"Are you ready Khushi?"
"Yeah! I am ready"
"You remember everything, right? And you ASR?"
Both nodded their heads while Akash and Payal came there.
"What's going on here Guys? And Khushi, why are you wearing this red Sari? You were about to wear a Lehenga na?" Payal asked doubtfully as she felt her friends were hiding something from her.
"Nothing Payal. You go, everyone must be waiting for you both. We will be joining you shortly" Arnav answered.
After they left, Lavanya wished luck to both Arnav and Khushi and asked them to wait near backstage.
**
"Good Evening everyone.. Welcome to this beautiful Sangeet party of Akash and his Pagal.. oops Payal" NK welcomed everyone.
"Not every childhood friendship stays forever, Not every friendship ends in Love, Not every Love ends in happy ending and not every '""Lavanya, don't confuse the people. Let's better show them. Lights off please" NK interrupted Lavanya's speech and made way for Arnav-Khushi on stage.
"So presenting you all the love story of Akash and Payal"
Both Akash and Payal looked each other in shock and when they saw the sight in front of them when lights were switched on, they were dumbfounded. Both Arnav and Khushi were standing on stage holding each other. As the music started, they first performed for "Yeh Ladka Hai Deewana" from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai showing Akash-Payal's initial friendship and later a slow dance on instrumental of KKHH Gazebo track. Finally they ended the dance together in 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' pose as instructed by Lavanya.
Everyone stood and gave a standing applause to them. As soon as the dance was over, Akash went towards Arnav and hugged him and Payal ran towards Khushi. Soon NK and Lavanya joined them and they had a group hug. Arnav smiled at Khushi as she looked at him.
"So the next surprise for the night is the slideshow" NK announced and played the same. The slideshow had pictures of both Akash and Payal from their childhood to the present. All the friends sat next to each other and teased the couple seeing the pictures. Khushi enjoyed everything until a picture appeared on screen. She was totally numb and her body started chilling. Lavanya stood immediately and fast forwarded the slideshow using the remote.
"NK, come with me!" She ordered angrily.
Khushi couldn't control herself and walked towards the lawn not to spoil the party mood.
"Why did you add that picture NK?"
"Lavanya, it was our group picture during our college. What's wrong in it?"
"Are you mad? Khushi's mom and dad are also there in that picture. How can you do that NK?"
"Shit! I'm extremely sorry" NK hit his head looking guilty.
"Just..Just go away NK. I don't want to see you"
"Lavanya, NK. It's okay. I'll go and check her. You both don't argue" Arnav said looking them.
"But ASR? How can you..?"
"I'll take care" saying that Arnav left from there.
**
Everything flashed in front Khushi.
Her childhood, her parents, her friends, her Arnav, everything! It was her 22nd B'day when Arnav took her to a restaurant and surprised her by calling her mom and dad from Lucknow. Akash, Payal, NK, Lavanya were also present and they all had a great time that day making her birthday memorable. And it was the same day while returning to Lucknow, her parents died in an accident. Khushi was completely broken.
It was their last semester and only her friends, Anjali Di, Shyam Jeeju and mainly Arnav brought her back from depression. If they were not there, she would have definitely not been here in Shimla to attend her friend's marriage now. Wiping her tears which continuously cascading down on her cheeks, she saw Arnav approaching her with her blurred eyes. She quickly turned to the other side and fresh tears started to form on her eyes.
"Why Arnav? Don't come near me. Please!"She spoke to herself on her mind biting her lips to control herself. There as expected, he came near her pressing her shoulders calling her name.
"Khushi.."
"No Arnav.. Just go away" she repeatedly said in her mind not wanting to turn. Her mind repeatedly flashed that day in front of her. Her mom, Her Dad, Their blessings.
"Khushi.." he called her once again, turning her to face him. He felt like someone was pricking his heart when Khushi was crying. He couldn't hold anymore and opened his arms wide to hug her. She hugged him tightly crying loudly. She clung to him like a safe harbor in a storm. He held his one hand on her head and the other on her back soothing her. "Don't cry!" he said repeatedly and they stood there hugging each other for a longtime. Khushi wiped her tears and pulled herself out of him when he didn't leave her.
She slowly walked away when Arnav absently pulled her closer again and buried his lips in her hair and Khushi was unprepared for the heat that skittered such debilitating sensations across her skin. She tried pushed him away in protest but his lips already touched hers. Not able to imagine what happened just now, Khushi slapped him hard and ran away leaving a shocking Arnav behind.**
Even though Arnav told her that he will look after Khushi, Lavanya wasnt satisfied. After convincing Akash, NK and Payal, Lavanya came to console her friend and saw Khushi hugging Arnav. She felt very happy. Seeing Arnav pulling Khushi, she decided to leave from there as she felt ASR will fix everything. And when was walking back towards the sangeet party, she heard a sound like slapping in the still silent lawn. She turned back and stood rooted in her place realizing that Khushi slapped Arnav. She was stunned. She quickly ran behind her but stopped remembering Payal. They all were already worried about Khushi. So she came back to the party back, wiping her own tears. She reassured everyone and smiled saying everything is fine, not wanting to spoil the festive mood.
**When both Payal and Lavanya reached their room, they saw Khushi already sleeping with blanket covering till her face with all lights turned off in the room. Only Lavanya knew that Khushi is not sleeping but crying under that blanket. She smiled at Payal saying that they should retire soon as the next day is her haldi. Payal hugged Lavanya for her sangeet and went to the other room to change her dress. Meanwhile, Lavanya tiptoed to the balcony and called NK to know about ASR's condition.
"NK, What is ASR doing? Is he Okay?"
"Don't know Lavanya, but he closed himself in the other room and didn't open the door yet. He always avoids people when he is upset. What happened? Is everything alright?"
"Nothing.. Leave him alone NK"
"Hmmm.."
"And I'm.."
"And you?"
"And I'm really sorry for shouting at you"
"Hey, It's okay La. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have added that picture. Don't know how I absent mindedly added it"
"It's ok NK. Bye Good night!"
"Good Night. Love you!"
"Love you too!"
Disconnecting the phone, Lavanya turned to return back to the room when she saw Payal standing there in front of her. "You have started to hide things from me La! First their dance and now.."
"No Payal. Not at all. We just wanted to surprise you, but NK's one mistake turned everything upside down. I didn't want you all to be upset. It's your wedding.
But anyways because of that mistake, I saw Khushi's conflict between her mind and heart today. I want to fix everything like before Payal"
"Its 'We' La. We will fix it" saying that both the girls hugged each other.
****
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