The sun streamed softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Arnav stirred awake, a fleeting feeling of bliss washing over him as he turned to see Khushi peacefully sleeping beside him.
"Hey baby, good morning," he said, his voice laced with affection.
Khushi blinked her eyes open and smiled. "Good morning," she whispered back.
They locked eyes, a moment of pure connection forming around them. Arnav leaned closer, his lips almost brushing against hers when suddenly, Khushi's phone buzzed, breaking the spell.
Khushi fumbled for her phone, glancing at the screen. The smile faded, replaced by a look of sheer horror. "It's my Papa," she said, panic rising in her voice as she answered the call.
"Hello, Papa Ji," she said, her voice trembling.
"Khushi, where are you? Your sister... she tried to attempt suicide. Come home fast!" her father's voice crackled through the line, laden with urgency.
"What? I'll be there in ten minutes!" she shouted, panic overtaking her senses.
Arnav, hearing the call, sat up fully, concern etched on his face. "What's happening?"
"Di... di is in trouble. Karishma di... she attempted suicide," Khushi stammered, tears already pooling in her eyes.
"Baby, please stop crying. I'll take you home," Arnav said, his voice steady but filled with worry.
"Please, please," Khushi pleaded, her body shaking with anxiety.
Without second thoughts, they quickly got dressed and rushed to the Ahuja house. The atmosphere was heavy when they arrived;
"Sir, you should go," Khushi said to Arnav, her voice still shaken.
"No, I want to see her," he insisted, trying to reassure her.
"Arnav sir, if you come in, everyone will suspect something. Please understand," Khushi begged, wiping her tears, desperate to shield her relationship from scrutiny.
"Okay, but I'm just a call away," Arnav replied softly, his eyes filled with concern.
Khushi nodded and entered the house feeling as though she was crossing a threshold into a nightmare.
Outside the room stood Mr. and Mrs. Ahuja, looking devastated.
"Maa, Papa, kya hua di ko?" Khushi asked, her body trembling, brushing away the tears that fell freely.
"Last night, when she came home, she cried a lot. When we asked what happened, she told us that the man she loved loves someone else," her father's voice quivered, the weight of his words crushing Khushi's heart.
"No..." Khushi whispered, the realization striking like a thunderbolt.
The doctor emerged from the room, and Khushi's heart raced as she approached. "Meri di kesi hai?" she asked urgently.
"She is out of danger, but you need to make sure she doesn't do something like this again," the doctor replied, already sensing the despair in Khushi's eyes.
"Ha... yes, doctor," she murmured, swallowed by fear.
When she entered the room, Khushi's heart raced as she saw her sister lying on the bed, pale and lifeless.
Karishma hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Khushi, Arnav loves someone else! I can't live without him! You know I came back for him! I left my dreams for him! How can he move on?" she cried, the agony of her heart spilling into the air around them.
"Di, please... don't say that," Khushi begged, her voice cracking.
Mr. Ahuja stepped forward, his heart breaking. "Beta, look at yourself. What are you doing to yourself for a boy? Don't you care for us?"
"Dad, you did this! You're the reason he's far away! You made him prefer someone else, and I'm lost because of you!" Karishma shot back, her anger boiling over.
Her father was shattered. "I'm sorry, beta," he whispered, tears brimming in his eyes.
"Dad, if I can't have Arnav, then I'll... I'll..." Karishma's voice faded, and she fainted back onto the bed.
"Someone get help!" Khushi screamed, her heart racing even faster now.
She thought it best to leave her sister to rest, stepping back into the hall, her own heart in turmoil.
Mr. Ahuja as he paced the living room, his mind racing with worry. His wife, Mrs. Ahuja, watched him with concern etched on her face. They had just heard the heartbreaking news about their daughter, Karishma, and the reality of their situation weighed heavily on their hearts.
"Karishma needs us, and I cannot stand by and watch her suffer any longer,"
"If it's my fault, I will fix it," Mr. Ahuja said, his voice shaking as he stopped mid-pace and took a deep breath. Mrs. Ahuja rushed to his side, her hand resting on his arm, urging him to stay calm.
"What are you going to do?" Mrs. Ahuja asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"I need to talk to Arnav," Mr. Ahuja replied fervently, determination hardening his expression. "He literally holds the key to my daughter's heart."
"Lekin aap kahenge kya unse?" Mrs. Ahuja questioned, her anxiety seeping through. What could he possibly say to the young man she hardly knew?
"Main maafi maangunga," Mr. Ahuja stated, his resolve firm. "Aur apni beti ka proposal bhi le jaunga." The idea of directly contacting Karishma's love interest sent a shimmer of hope through him. Perhaps if discussions were opened, they could understand their daughter's pain.
Do you really think talking to Arnav will help?" she asked, her voice low and tense.
With a heavy heart, Mr. Ahuja turned to face her. "It's better to know and face it than to remain in the dark. I need to do this."
"Shayad aap thik keh rahe hain," Mrs. Ahuja responded slowly, contemplating her husband's plan, yet seeded with doubt.
Just then, Khushi, overheard the conversation from the hallway; her heart sank. "Dad, wait! He—" she choked on her words, realizing the gravity of what was being contemplated.
"He—what?" Mr. Ahuja's voice rose with a mix of irritation and worry.
"Dad! I want to tell you something important," Khushi cried, stepping into the living room, her heart racing with anxiety.
"Can we talk later about this? Right now, I am worried about Karishma," Mr. Ahuja responded impatiently.
"Ji, Dad," Khushi murmured, feeling the walls of her world closing in around her.
"Khushi, you know Arnav. Right? Who is he? Have you met him?" Mr. Ahuja's eyes locked onto hers, searching for answers.
Desperately trying to convey her thoughts, Khushi stammered, "Dad! He's my professor, Arnav Singh Raizada!"
"Is he the one you study with often? The one you go out with?" her father's tone was grave, signifying the weight of his words.
"Yes, Dad!" Hip deep in emotions, Khushi felt an immense wave of helplessness; she couldn't stop her father from taking actions that could turn their lives upside down.
"Then this is good," Mr. Ahuja murmured to himself, a flicker of hope igniting. "I will talk to him."
As they continued planning ,Khushi fled to her room, an avalanche of emotion exploding within her. She sank onto her bed, memories flooding her mind—each laugh, every stolen moment with Arnav, and the euphoric joy they'd shared just last night.
Meanwhile, at college, Arnav had just concluded a meeting with , Aman, Akash, and Maddy, excitement shining in his eyes. "Guys, Khushi and I are officially together now! She confessed her feelings, and I can't believe we're finally happy!"
Cheers erupted, a rapid whirlwind of jokes and claps of encouragement. But his smile faded when he added, "But there's something terrible. Karishma attempted suicide."
"What?!" they exclaimed in shock.
"Why is this happening?" Maddy asked, brows knitted with undeniable concern, a knot forming in his stomach.
"That's what we need to find out. We're going to the Ahuja house tomorrow," Arnav said, a heavy weight settling in his chest. The joy of his newfound love was overshadowed by the devastating news.
There were challenges ahead that could reshape everything they knew about themselves and each other. Together, they would face the storms, but at what cost? The tranquility of love and the tumult of reality blended into an unsettling horizon neither could predict.