Arnav wakes up to another sunny morning... He jumps down from the bed and runs out of his room... He sees his Di in front of Devi Maiyya doing her regular rituals. Aakash, NK, naniji, mamaji and mamiji standing beside her with hands folded.
But he does not see Khushi anywhere.
He runs down the stairs ignoring his Di's calls and runs to the kitchen. But he sees HP and OP preparing breakfast.
Arnav starts sweating. His eyes fill with tears.
He thinks: Does that mean that the wrap was a hoax? No no... it can't happen...
He asks HP: Where's Khushi?
HP (Surprised): Khushiji? How can she be here?
Arnav (shocked): What?
He sways on his feet. He feels as if his heart will explode.
Anjali enters the kitchen: What are you doing here Chotey?
Arnav raises his painful eyes at Anjali: Di... Khushi is not here... She will never be here...
Anjali (surprised): Yes, I know Khushiji is not here. But she will be here any moment. The dance master is coming today for Aakash & Payelji's Sangeet function. She will be here with Payalji shortly for practice. Why would you think that she will never be here?
Arnav raises his shocked gaze to Anjali: Di, what is the date today?
Anjali: 7th February, 2012. What happened to you Chotey? Are you okay?
Arnav (smiling big): So that means 7 day from now is Aakash and Payal's wedding on February 14, 2012?
Anjali (worried): Yes Chotey. Are you all right?
Arnav (shouts with joy): Yes yes Di... I'm all right. I've never been better.
He hugs Anjali tight. Anjali is surprised to see her Chotey so happy but happy for him regardless.
He suddenly hears the doorbell ring...
Arnav runs to the door ignoring Anjali's surprised look and opens it...
His heart sighs. There she is... With her green salwar with pom poms on, her hair braided, face glowing with innocence...
His heart felt as if he was looking at the most beautiful woman in the world. He just could not look away.
He moved forward to wrap her in his arms and never let go. But Khushi never once glanced his way and went through the door giving him wide space avoiding all possible contacts.
Arnav calls Khushi surprised: Khushi? What is the matter? Why are you behaving like I'm a stranger?
Khushi turns her big accusing eyes on him and says: After insulting me last night, you are asking me why I'm avoiding you?
Arnav tries to remember what he did the night before. Suddenly his memory strikes - The cocktail party. He remembers his insults to Khushi about her moving on so fast right after her engagement broke. Then him finding out that her engagement was broken long before.
He winces in his stupidity... But before he could say anything, Khushi turns to leave...
He says: Khushi, I'm sorry. May be, I should not have told you all that...
Khushi turns back to him: May be?
Then she leaves. Arnav rubs his face with his palm... Seems like he has a lot to make up for...
The dancing master arrives. She was assigning dances for everyone... She points at Arnav and Khushi for the Groom's brother and Bride's sister's dance.
Arnav looks from the corner of his eyes, NK is eager to step in. But this time, he does not want to miss even rehearsal time with Khushi...
He agrees to dance to the shocked expression of every family member...
Naniji: Chotey? Since when do you dance? We thought NK will do it with Khushi bitiya...
Arnav (Irritated at Nani's blatant matchmaking for NK): Nani, do you want me to do it or not?
Naniji: Yes, if you want to... I mean...
Arnav (frowns): I want to do it...
He looks at Khushi. Khushi's eyes are big on her delicate face and her mouth is opened as "O"...
He smirks at her expression and thinks: Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, I know the moves already. This time, NK is not coming within 10 feet of you... That's your husband's promise to you...
The dance rehearsal starts with Aakash and Payal looking dreamily in each other's eyes and swaying on their spot...
The dance master opens her mouth to instruct Arnav and Khushi, but before she could say anything, Arnav places his hand on Khushi's tiny waist and pulls hard towards him...
Khushi stumbles on him and they get plastered together like two sides of the same coin...
Khushi looks up and Arnav looks down in each other's eyes and they get lost...
Arnav smiles softly to her and sways to the music that he knows only he can hear... He could hear Khushi's heartbeat increase echoing his own...
Khushi could not believe this is the same Arnavji who insulted her so badly the previous night, looking into her eyes like she is the most precious thing on Earth...
She then remembers another time when she thought she saw love in his eyes and was shown her place brutally, breaking her heart on a balmy night of Diwali...
Her eyes harden. She pushes Arnav away. Arnav looks at her surprised by the sudden change of her attitude.
The dancing master asks: What's the matter?
Khushi: I'm sorry. I'm feeling a bit tired. I'd like to stop the rehearsal now. Can I do it tomorrow? I'll practice, I promise...
The dancing master frowns but agrees...
Khushi turns to leave... Arnav follows her to the door.
Arnav (surprised): Khushi... What happened to you suddenly? Why are you leaving now?
Khushi: Arnavji, I have to go home. I'm tired.
Arnav (worried): Okay. Give me a minute to grab the car keys. I will drop you off...
Khushi: No... Thank you. But I can go myself.
Arnav (frustrated): Khushi, I won't let you go by yourself.
Khushi gives up: Fine...
Arnav grabs his keys and leaves with Khushi.
Arnav was driving and he notices Khushi was quiet and looking out the window...
Arnav starts thinking what he can do to make her happy. Making people happy comes so easy to Khushi. Just being around her makes people shine with happiness.
But he is not as good at making people happy. Instead he just seems to make people sad...
Arnav sighs. Then he brightens up as he remembers Khushi's weakness...
He stops the car.
Khushi looks at him in surprise: Arnavji, why did you stop the car?
Arnav's eyes sparkle: Wait here...
Arnav gets down.
Khushi thinks puzzled: What happened to Laad Governor? He is behaving so weird. Almost as if he is a different person...
Arnav comes back with a brown paper bag and hands them to Khushi.
Khushi looks at him and asks: For me?
Arnav smiles: Yes.
Khushi opens the bag and squeals in happiness: Arre... It's jalebis...
She raises her shining eyes at Arnav: Thank you Arnavji...
Arnav smiles at her innocent face shining with happiness as if he brought her diamond necklace: You are welcome...
Khushi looks at him in wonder...
He raises his brows and nods at the bag...
Khushi nods happily and starts gobbling the jalebis...
Arnav smiles and drives his car to her place...
When they reach Gupta House, he gets down.
Khushi wonders: Where is Laad Governor going?
She follows him inside.
Arnav goes into Gupta House. Garima and Buaji come out seeing Arnav's car.
Buaji (worried): Arre babua, you? Is everything all right?
Arnav smiles at the woman who gave him so much love in another time: Yes Buaji. I'm good. How are you?
Buaji is surprised to hear such a polite tone and pleasant smile from a man who mostly keeps his mouth shut and scowls: Yes babua. We are good.
Arnav: How is babuji? I mean uncle?
Now it's Garima's turn to worry: Why bitwa? Is there anything wrong?
Arnav smiles: No aunty. I just wanted to see if our family is all right...
Everyone is shocked to hear that.
Arnav suddenly realizes his error and fixes it quickly: I mean, Aakash is getting married to Payal. So her family is now our family too right?
Garima and Buaji happily nods. Buaji: You are absolutely right bitua... May God give you long life...
Arnav's eyes fill with tears: Buaji, give me blessing that my LIFE gets long life...
Buaji does not understand.
Arnav looks at Khushi and thinks: You are my life, Khushi. I wish you get long life...
Khushi looks at him in wonder.
Arnav starts to leave. Khushi runs after him: Arnavji, Arnavji...
Arnav looks back and sees a slab from the roof is loose and it's starting to fall on Khushi...
He runs to her shouting her name and pulls her to him just in time for the slab to fall on the ground and shatter.
He feels his heart beat increase in fear. He pulls Khushi from him and checks her: Khushi, are you alright. You are not hurt, are you?
Khushi looks at the worried face of Arnav: No, Arnavji... I'm okay...
Garima and Buaji come running out at the sound... The neighbours come there too, to check what happened.
Arnav looks up and sees Preetika standing there. He calls her: Preetika, please take care of Khushi for a moment. I will check what happened.
Preetika and Khushi look at him shocked thinking how does Arnav know Preetika?
Khushi asks: Arnavji, how do you know Preetika?
Arnav looks at her: Umm... you must have mentioned her...
Khushi (surprised): I did?
Arnav (worried): Never mind, forget it... The roof of your home is not safe. I think until this wedding is done, you all should move to Shantivan.
He decides that it will make his job easy to protect Khushi if she is under the same roof...
Garima, Khushi and Buaji are shocked.
Garima: How can it be bitua? How can we go to our daughter's in-laws place and stay there?
Buaji: Garima is right. We can't do it.
Arnav (frustrated): Buaji, don't think our home as your daughter's in-laws. Think of it as your son's home. Then you can come right?
Garima and Buaji exclaim: Son's home?
Arnav (winches at his slip of tongue again): Yes, Aakash is now your son right? Just like Payal is daughter of our home...
Buaji gets tears in her eyes: Now we have no worry that Payal will be happy there. Of course... Aakash is our son. But still we can't go there...
Arnav thinks for a moment and decides to let Nani do the talking.
He had to leave for now but the worry about Khushi's safety leaves with him.
He decides, he will bring Khushi home in any means possible...
He thinks: That is the only way he can keep her safe. He can't lose her before their 7 days are over.
Then his face hardens with determination and he vows: If he has anything to say about it, he won't lose his Khushi ever... Not even after 7 days...
what a story....
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