The evening air was thick with unspoken emotions as Khushi and Karishma returned home after a long day. Khushi rushed to her room, needing a moment to herself, while Karishma lingered to collect her thoughts. As soon as she was alone, Karishma sank onto her bed, the memories tumbling through her mind like leaves caught in a whirlwind.
Images of Khushi and Arnav flooded her memories. She remembered the way Khushi's eyes lit up at the sound of his name and the little glances they exchanged-fleeting moments that she had brushed off in her excitement to return from London. Karishma recalled the time she had come back to find every detail perfectly attuned to Khushi's tastes. The truth finally struck her like a thunderbolt: it had never been about her at all; it had always been about Khushi.
"Oh God," she gasped, sinking back against her pillows. "That means Arnav loves Khushi and Khushi loves Arnav." The realization sent a tumultuous wave of emotions crashing over her-hurt, anger, and an unexpected pang of jealousy. What had she done? Had her return from London somehow driven a wedge between them?
That thought twisted in her gut like a knife. What if Khushi had chosen to go abroad because of her? The weight of this thought was unbearable, and the tears began to flow. She felt angry not just at Arnav or Khushi, but at herself for being blind to something so obvious.
In a fit of determination-mixed with confusion and sorrow-Karishma made her way to Khushi's room. She couldn't hold back her questions any longer.
She knocked lightly on the door and waited, but there was no response. Frowning, she tried the door handle, and to her surprise, it swung open. The room was empty.
"Where could she be?" Karishma wondered aloud, glancing around the room, searching for any clues. She quickly scanned the house-perhaps Khushi had just stepped away. She looked in the kitchen, the living room, and even the garden, but Khushi was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, in another part of town, Khushi found herself standing at the gates of Arnav's house, and with Akash's help, she discreetly made her way to Arnav's room.
As she entered, an overwhelming wave of emotion took over, and without thinking, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Arnav. The warmth of his embrace was comforting, but the moment felt too intense for Arnav. He gently pushed her back, concern etched on his forehead.
"Khushi, what are you doing?" he asked,
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sir," Khushi stammered, feeling vulnerable under his gaze.
"Khushi, leave me," Arnav urged, trying to maintain a semblance of distance.
"Nahi, main nahi!" she replied, her voice trembling. She looked up at him with tears glimmering in her eyes. "Nahi, nahi, mujhe samajh aa gaya hai. I can't live without you. If something were to happen to you today, I would..." she broke off, overwhelmed.
"Shh," Arnav said softly, putting his hand on her mouth to quiet her. "Come sit with me."
Reluctantly, she let him lead her to the edge of his bed, where they sat side by side, the weight of unspoken words lingering in the air.
"Tell me, what do you want, Khushi?" Arnav prompted, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "You once said you loved me, then you said I should marry your sister. And now, you're telling me you can't live without me. How is this possible?"
"I was stupid," Khushi confessed, wiping her tears. "I didn't understand before, but now it all makes sense. I love you, Arnav. I can't be without you."
"Khushi, no. This isn't possible now. You should go home," Arnav responded, his expression hardening.
"Why isn't it possible? If you want it, it can happen!" she exclaimed fervently.
"I don't want it anymore," Arnav replied, his voice cold. "The girl who stands up for everyone else but doesn't fight for herself... I don't want a relationship like that."
"Sir, please, I'm sorry," Khushi pleaded, desperation adding urgency to her tone.
"Khushi, jao yaha se," he instructed firmly, no longer able to meet her gaze.
With her heart shattering, Khushi got up, unable to hold in the tears that streamed down her cheeks as she walked away from him.
Just then, Akash entered the room, and noticing Khushi's tear-streaked face as she left, he turned to Arnav with a worried expression. "Bhai, is Khushi crying? What happened?"
Arnav smirked slightly, a mix of amusement and sadness flickering across his face. "Don't tell me Khushi confessed her feelings."
Akash let out a surprised laugh, and Arnav merely nodded, feeling the weight of the moment settle within him.
Meanwhile, back at their home, Karishma picked up her phone, dialing Khushi's number. "Kahan ho tum?" she asked, her voice laced with concern as Khushi answered.
"Kyun, Di? What happened?" Khushi replied, her voice still quivering from the encounter.
"Ghar aao, mujhe baat karni hai," Karishma insisted, sensing something was off.
"Ji, Di," Khushi murmured, her heart heavy as she made her way home, knowing that this conversation with her sister would lead to a truth she was terrified to face.
The door creaked open just as Khushi emerged from the main door,
"Khushi," Karishma started, her voice shaky with emotion. You love Arnav, don't you?"
Khushi's eyebrows furrowed, surprise flickering across her face. "Di, kaisi bat kar rahi ho?" she replied, her tone a blend of disbelief and innocence.
"No! Jhoot mat bolo. Mujhe sach bata, aaj jo maine dekha-" Karishma's voice wobbled under the weight of her feelings.
"Di, kya ek ladka ladki dost nahi ho sakte? Sir, mere bahut ache dost hain, bahut ache," Khushi insisted, her cheeks flushing slightly as she tried to defuse the tension.
Karishma pressed her lips together, determined to get to the heart of the matter. "But-"
Khushi's voice interrupted, firm yet pleading. "Di, he is my professor and my friend. That's it."
Karishma stared into Khushi's eyes, searching for any sign of deceit, any hint of misunderstanding. But deep down, she felt a shift within herself. She could see it-the unspoken connection, the way Khushi's heart raced at Arnav's mere mention.
In that moment, Karishma felt a familiar warmth bloom within her, transforming her shock into understanding. Yes, Khushi loved Arnav, and perhaps, somewhere in her heart, Karishma was beginning to realize that she could not stand in the way of true love, even if it stung to face the truth.
As they stood together, Karishma grabbed Khushi's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. The road ahead might be uncertain, but Karishma knew one thing with clarity-it was time for both of them to find their own paths, even if they diverged from each other's. And in that truth lay the promise of better days, regardless of the heartaches that had come before.