Is This Love Chapter 10

Chapter 10


*AT GUPTA HOUSE*

Khushi just entered her house after being dropped by Arnav.

She had been thinking all the while how to tell her parents that she didn't want to marry the guy of their choice. How can she hurt them? They expected her to trust their decision. How could she possibly do this to them? They had given her so much love despite being her foster parents.
They would think that they had some fault in her upbringing that she didn't trust them.

Khushi was in a real turmoil. She couldn't bring herself to talk about the alliance to Arnav and now she didn't have the courage to say no to her parents. She silently prayed to devi maiyya as she stepped inside the house.

She instantly felt the atmosphere was really jovial because she could hear shashi and Garima laughing. She entered with low eyes not being able to look at them directly. Garima stood up and came upto Khushi.

"Khushi beta thank god you came. We have a good news." Garima said.

While shashi smiled and replied. "We are so glad that we got the rishta from the Raizada's and we just couldn't refuse."

WHAT????

Thought Khushi as her mouth hung open!

Alliance?

From the Raizada family?

She was literally jumping in her mind with all the worries flying out of the window. She was the happiest person on earth when Garima's voice broke her thoughts.

"We are so happy for Payal! Because Akaash is a really nice boy and we just couldn't say no."

Now Khushi got the ultimate shock of her life. She felt as if someone stabbed her right in the heart and ripped it off. She couldn't believe her fate. Just then she saw Payal coming towards them with a tray of tea in her hands, happiness evident on her face. Khushi knew that Payal and Akaash loved each other from college because Payal never hid anything from Khushi.

Khushi mentally slapped herself. Here she was supposed to feel happy for her sister and she was feeling sad about herself? How can I be so selfish? Thought Khushi as she smiled hiding her disappointment.

"Congratulations jiji'" Khushi whispered as Payal came to stand in front of her. They shared a beautiful sisterly hug. Khushi felt really happy for Payal. Khushi knew Akaash since Payal had introduced them and Khushi also knew that he would keep Payal more than just happy."

Just then Buaji entered.

"Oh such a lovely news. I have confirmed the alliance of my sanka devi!!!"

Now Khushi literally had a heart attack! Her alliance fixed without her permission??

What?
How?
And Why?

She really couldn't understand as her mind went blank due to the shocks she was getting within minutes! While Buaji continued'

"Garima the house is so big and they are really rich. The boy is really sweet and handsome. But the best part is that the family is so loving and caring that they will keep our bitiya happy all the time. She can never get a better home."

Khushi was on the verge of tears so she quickly ran to her room closing the door after her as she sat down leaning on the door crying. She heard Buaji say "Lagta hai Sharma gayi'" and they all giggled.

Now what would Khushi do?

Her alliance was fixed. How could she break it and let her family face discrimination? They had treated her as their own, especially Buaji had always been pampering Khushi all her life. Khushi couldn't repay her like this!

Now what would she do?


*****


*AT SHANTIVAN*

Arnav  had just returned from the office as he was walking by the passage to his room, he heard Anjali and nani talking in Anjali's room. He stopped outside the wall of the room to hear them.

Anjali said to nani I a happy voice "I am so glad that manorma mami has asked for Payal's hand. Now Akaash will get married soon."

Nani replied thoughtfully "Only if we knew how serious Chotey is about Khushi bitiya then we could have asked for her hand in marriage as well."

Anjali replied re-assuring nani "Don't worry nani I will talk to Chotey very soon. I will let you kow what he thinks about his marriage with Khushi ji"

Arnav smiled. As in he literally smiled like a small child. Just the idea of Khushi as his wife made his stomach fill with butterflies and an overwhelming feeling took over in his heart.

He wanted to marry her'. Soon!

Just as Arnav reached his room her got a call from Aman'



*****


*AT SHANTIVAN*



The sun rays hit her eyes and she was forced to open her eyes. Khushi realized she had drifted to sleep crying in the bed. She also remembered that Payal had knocked and come in while Khushi quickly wiped her tears trying to smile. That was probably the first time Payal didn't notice that Khushi had been crying. Maybe she was too happy, thought Khushi and again became happy for Payal but sadness overcame her as she remembered the decision she had to make now...


*FLASHBACK*




"Areh jiji aap? Aao'." Khushi tried to speak in a normal voice as Payal ran straight into Khushi's arms hugging her tightly again. "My dream is finally coming true Khushi." She heard Payal whisper and she felt some moistness on her shoulder and realized that Payal was crying.


"Kya hua jiji?" Khushi asked very concerned as she cupped Payal's face.

Payal smiled and replied "Its tears of happiness."

They sat on the bed and Payal spoke her heart out to Khushi as she always did.

"You know Khushi I was really scared that if Akaash ji does not send the rishta on time then amma and babuji will fix my marriage elsewhere and I would never ever be able to refuse them."

This pricked Khushi's heart even more. If Payal wouldn't refuse then who was she to do so? She asked Payal "..Jiji you wouldn't refuse even if it meant you would have to marry someone else and not the you love?"

Payal smiled and replied "Yes Khushi I would marry the one mom and dad chose for me. I love Akaash ji BUT not more tha I love amma and babuji. I can never hurt them for my personal benefit."

Khushi was about to cry listening to  Payal's answer. She asked again ' "Would you be happy with someone else jiji?"

Payal sighed and cupped Khushi's left cheek "I don't really know but I guess that doesn't matter now as Akaash ji has asked my hand so I am marrying the one I love, and that too with everyone's permission."

Permission? Thought Khushi.

She wished she had known a little earlier that she would fall for Arnav and she would be sure about his feelings to talk about it with her family.

Payal was so happy that Khushi didn't want to bother her with her own problems. She wanted to let Payal enjoy her share of happiness rather than being upset with Khushi's problems. So Khushi hugged Payal again, changed in her night suit. She sobbed lightly as she thought of what Payal had said about not hurting amma and babuji, Khushi didn't know when she drifted off to sleep'


*END OF FLASHBACK*




Khushi was in no mood of going anywhere today. How will she tell the man that she loved that she will be marrying someone else? How can she tell him that she can never be his now?

How would he react? She doesn't even know if he loves her and if he had ever planned of marrying her. This confusion was getting more complex by the second.

But wait..

 What?

Khushi just admitted that she loved him? She loved Arnav Singh Raizada?

Khushi realized she had now given her feelings an official name called'.LOVE!!

And how unfortunate was she that she cannot tell him that she loves him it won't be appropriate. She belongs to someone else and she cannot love him anymore.

Just the thought of it made Khushi eyes fill up with fresh tears, which she let flow freely.

She thought it would be best to cry her heart out and move on'.

But would she able to?

The main thing was that Khushi was still unsure that Arnav wanted to marry her or not.

She couldn't break her parents heart for the sake of her own assumption, she needed to talk with Arnav and ask him what he actually felt about her.

She knew he was damn serious about her, no doubt!

But would this seriousness lead to marriage?


Khushi got up with a heavy heart and got ready for work. As she walked into the living room for breakfast she heard amma telling Buaji how happy she was for her daughters and that her daughters had made her proud.

Khushi heard Buaji say that she was really going to miss Khushi because Khushi was the life of the house. Khushi had no idea what to do. She had no one to talk to as yet. She felt extremely lonely.  That's when Garima noticed Khushi was standing nearby and lost in her thoughts.

"Areh Khushi bitiya why are you standing there? Come and have your breakfast."

Khushi managed a small smile and walked in the kitchen. But Khushi had lost appetite and Garima noticed this because she knew that Khushi was a foodie. She wondered what was wrong with Khushi. And she made up her mind to have a small heart to heart talk with her soon' very soon.




***



Khushi reached AR.  She got off the auto and paid the drive as she saw the building. It was tall and vibrant, perfect in its own accord exactly like the person who owned the building.

Khushi tried to prepare herself mentally as she entered. Khushi you are now a just an ordinary employee of AR and now you will be married off somewhere soon. You are here just to work. She closed her eyes and prayed to devi maiyya to give her the strength.


Devi maiyya sighed at the prayer of the poor soul. What could she do to help? Now Devi maiyya was in turmoil. What plan would she make to help Khushi?

Devi maiyya now had a lot of homework to do, she had a relationship to save, of her biggest devotee.

Khushi entered her cabin and instantly her eyes flew to her desk. There kept was a bouquet full of red roses and white lilies and a box of chocolate beside with a small note on top of it.

She forgot all the problems for a moment as her face lit up and ran to the note and read it.

"Baby I am so sorry that I won't be in town for two days. Duty calls. A very important meeting has come up in Mumbai but I promise I will be back soon. Till then take care and miss me. I will call you as soon as I reach there. 'Arnav"

The note gave birth to so many emotions inside her.

First of all, happiness because he made her feel so special and he was apologizing for going out of town for a meeting. Secondly she felt special because the he made her feel as if she was his wife. Thirdly upsetness because he wouldn't be around for two days and lastly sadness as she realized she does not deserve all this anymore. She does not belong to him anymore!!

The last reason made her heart cry out in pain!

Khushi held the flowers to her heart and hugged it, closing her eyes she felt emptiness take over her. She cannot marry someone else. Why doesn't she deserve this happiness? What was wrong in love marriage?

Khushi was not able to draw a correct conclusion anymore. And Arnav behaving this way was definitely not helping her!

Khushi spent the rest of the day preparing for the upcoming fashion event. She knew it meant a lot for the company and she being a hardworking employee gave it her best. So she was almost successful in diverting her mind from elsewhere and concentrating on work.


She was successful in doing so until her phone rand and the screen flashed "Arnavji"

She was reluctant but she knew she had to answer his phone because she couldn't spoil his mood on a business trip, she knew he wouldn't concentrate on the meeting if she didn't answer.

"Hello"

"Hey sweetheart... Flowers ache lage?" came an extremely husky voice making her heart skip a beat.

"Hmm" was all she could reply.

"I just reached my hotel now. So missing me?" he asked curiously making her smile and she retorted with a "Nahi toh" making him smile now.

"Im sorry I had to leave without meeting you." Arnav said in sad voice.

Khushi's heart sank listening to his voice, how can she ever break his heart?

She replied trying to cheer him up "Arnavji I am not angry at all and please don't say sorry, work is important"

"But not more than you"

This one line made her heart skip a beat. How much more can she fall in love with him?

He was saying sorry!

He was concerned! Caring! Loving! Sweet! Understanding!

He was just perfect!

Khushi still didn't want him to know anything as yet because he might leave the meeting and come right over. Khushi was not that type of a person who would trouble others for her own problems.

Although she had no idea what she would do she talked casually to let him be free minded during the meeting.

He chatted for about half an hour when he was informed that the meeting was to commence he kept the phone but promised to call again.

As Khushi kept the phone she sighed heavily and sat down with a very guilty heart, tears rushing out.

NO!

She scolded herself!

She had to be strong. She cannot betray her parents for her own happiness. She will tell Arnav everything as soon as he arrives and things will be OVER, once in for all!!!