Is This Love Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Khushi had not slept well in the two days.

She had made up her mind and she was not going to change it. Especially after the convo she had with Garima a day before. That conversation had made her confusion clear, although the decision she had made, pierced her heart every second.

Khushi was not the type of person who could easily open to people. Losing her parents at an early age and being adopted by Garima and shashi had been a difficult journey, although they loved her, as much as they loved their own daughter Payal. She was still finding it difficult to live upto their expectations ever since she was small. She didn't want to hurt the people who saved from almost dying, who saved her from becoming an orphan.

Khushi was a shy girl.

The only person she could speak her heart out to was Payal but at this point in time she could not be the end of her sister's happiness. Khushi knew Payal very well, if Khushi told her about her problems then Payal would leave all her happiness aside and get upset with Khushi's problem.

When Khushi was a child she was really scared of the world. She could clearly remember herself sitting in the corner of her school corridor when some of her classmates had come up and started teasing her about her being an orphan.

Just as they were about to come and snatch her bag which she was clutching to her chest, she heard a loud thud. The person coming towards her had stopped in his tracks because he was slapped really hard in the face, by Payal.

That was the first time Khushi had seen Payal. Payal was a year older than Khushi. She had stopped people from teasing her and had said out loud "Khushi meri behen hai! Samjhe tum sab? And don't you dare come near my sister."

The principle had called Payal's parents for slapping the guy whose tooth was broken. Instead of getting angry her parents were proud that their daughter had done the right thing thus adopting Khushi as Payal's younger sister.

Till this day Payal's loved had not lessened, instead Payal was the best sister anyone could dream of. Tying Khushi's hair everyday, putting her to sleep in her lap, telling stories, sharing secrets, giving knowledge about the reality of the world. She was all in one.

Khushi was really overwhelmed by thinking about Payal. Payal had turned her life upside down, giving her the love that she deserved and she could not repay her sister by creating problems for her when she was about to marry the love of her life.

As Khushi's thought wandered to Arnav, she remembered the first time that she had seen him. The aura of the personality he had had attracted her in the first sight. Khushi had a crush on him instantly but she barely knew it. Khushi being a simple and innocent girl did not understand these feelings until Arnav himself approached her.

Arnav was a really nice guy. From their encounter in the few weeks she could tell how clean hearted and simple he was. Her envy had grown for him. He was the most eligible bachelor of the town, a man known for his anger and merciless behavior…. For Others!

For Khushi he was just Arnav, plain Arnav. A man who said sorry even if he thought he had hurt her, not being even sure if she was angry he would still apologize. She knew sorry was a word which was magic for others, anyone else would sacrifice their most precious asset just to hear him say sorry but for Khushi? She just needed a little upsetness on her face to make him apologize.

She wanted to tell him that she was going to get married but she refrained from doing so. She had a reason.

Being the type of person that Khushi was, she didn't want people around her to be upset because of her, she didn't want people to misunderstand her, and she didn't want people to think she was an attention seeker. She liked solving her problems by herself. Khushi was a type of person who wouldn't bother anyone with her problem unless the problem was that she was dying and needed a glass of water, then only she would ask for water.

She was scared he would think she was trying to pressurize him for marrying her, afterall he was a business tycoon and she was an ordinary girl with morals. She could not force him to think that way; if he wanted to marry her then he would tell her.

Khushi's conscience was clear.

Devi maiyya breathed heavily, you are not wrong baby, the world is that way, they think what they want to, I understand how difficult it is for you to voice out your problems. Don't worry baby I am thinking…

Khushi got up from bed and went for a bath. As she was getting ready she remembered the conversation she had had the night before with Garima.

*FLASBACK*

Garima entered Khushi's room and sat down beside Khushi who was trying to busy herself in finalizing the guest list for the fashion show. Garima had seen an upset Khushi and had made up her mind to speak to her daughter. As she sat down, Khushi looked up and tried to smile at Garima.

"Aree amma come sit…" she said clearing some scattered papers.

Garima smiled and touched Khushi's left cheek. "Bitiya I am here to talk to you…"

Khushi's smile faded looking at her amma's pale face and broken voice.

"Kya hua amma?" she asked in a concerned voice placing her hand over garima's which was on her cheek.

"Bitiya do you think we have made a wrong decision for your marriage? Don't deny it, I have seen you upset numerous times. I assume you think your bauji and I have pressurized you."

Khushi was on the verge of tears looking at her mother's guilty face. Khushi had seen how happy Garima was after fixing both her daughter's marriage. She couldn't stop smiling. But now? Garima looked extremely disheartened and Khushi shattered when she saw a tear escape garima's eyes.

Khushi immediately hugged Garima.

Garima cried in her arms till her sobbing turned lighter as Garima broke the hug. She got up and whispered in broken voice…

"We are sorry that we couldn't be good parents to you. We have failed.." Garima choked on her words as fresh tears flew from her eyes "We failed in doing the best for you and unknowingly we pressurized you. I am sorry Khushi. The choice is yours. I will break the alliance tomorrow itself…"

Khushi?

Garima had never called Khushi like this with her name. She had always addressed her using 'bitiya' but today Khushi's name felt like a curse to her. She felt disowned. Khushi knew the ball was in her court. Then and there Khushi made her decision. She could not break her parents heart for the sake of a man whom she wasn't sure would marry her or not.

Khushi ran out of her room searching for Garima and found her sitting on the step of their back-door, crying. The sight pierced Khushi's heart. She sat in front of Garima and buried her head in her lap.

"Amma I am ready to marry, with my own will. I trust your decision!"

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Khushi sighed heavily as she plastered a fake smile on her face and walked out of her room. Garima was in the kitchen cooking kheer for Khushi. As Khushi went up Garima served it in abowl and brought it upto Khushi, smiling she said..

"Bitiya now that you have agreed this kheer is for mooh meetha rasam. Congratulations, you made us proud." As she leaned and kissed Khushi on the forehead.

Khushi felt happy that Garima had again started regarding her as bitiya. She was happy that her parents were happy. She ate the kheer and left for work.

Today HE was coming back!

Arnav had not called Khushi in the two days but he had not forgotten to send her messages every two hours or so telling her how much he missed her. But Khushi never replied much to his anxiety.

Arnav was a man of few words.

He hardly spoke his heart to anyone and here he was pouring his feelings like water in the waterfall. Arnav smiled and thought, all because of Khushi.

When Khushi had not replied at any of his texts he assumed she might be busy and angry that he was not calling and instead sending text messages. He was waiting eagerly for the plane to land so he could go to her, scoop her in his arms. Kiss her forehead and tell her how much he missed her and he didn't call her because he was scared if he listened to her sweet and lively voice, he might end up leaving all his work and come running to her.

Much to Arnav's displeasure as he landed, he was informed that he had four back to back meetings, two international conferences and a local deal signing.

Arnav sighed looking at his schedule as he mentally apologized to Khushi for delaying meeting her. She was his most important meeting but this was his responsibility, he was the owner of AR employing over 2850 people. He fed 2850 families and his one wrong decision might lead them to starve.

He had to attend the meetings.