OS: It's Not About You

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OS: It's Not About You

Arnav looked at his phone and smiled, it was Khushi. He answered the phone still smiling 'yes?' he knew it annoyed Khushi when he answered the phone like that. She always expected him to speak almost as much as she did but that was just never going to happen.

'I'm really sorry but we can't get married!' Khushi sobbed into the phone and ended the call before Arnav even had a chance to digest the information.

They couldn't get married? Why not? And why was Khushi crying? He rang Khushi back immediately but all he got was an automated message telling him the number was unavailable.

He shut his laptop and grabbed his keys; there was no way he was going to let Khushi end things between them just like that. He would never have considered marriage at all if Khushi hadn't made him believe in all of those things.

He drove to Khushi's trying to think of all the things that could have been wrong since he last saw her. As far as he knew she had been planning to tell her family about the two of them today and ask their permission to get married.

Obviously they must have refused. He knew he should have insisted on being there with her. He'd offered but she had assured him that they would be better off hearing the news from just her and that she could make them agree to the wedding.

He parked the car and felt a slight sense of trepidation as to his reception as he walked towards the house. He had thought Khushi's parents liked him but clearly they hadn't forgotten those first few months when he had been so horrible to Khushi or his broken engagement to Lavanya. Not that he could blame them but that didn't matter; he just had to convince them how much he loved Khushi and how happy he would make her and they would just have to agree.

Payal opened the door and greeted Arnav with a smile which confused him slightly. 'Hello Arnavji, how are you? Come in, come in.'

He was greeted similarly by Khushi's parents and aunt and asked about his health, family and if he wanted various things like tea and pakoras. Arnav didn't pay much attention to the conversation going on around him instead looking for Khushi but not seeing her anywhere. When Payal brought around his tea he asked her quietly, 'where's Khushi?'

'Oh, she's just in our room. She said she had a headache but I'm sure she won't mind seeing you.'

Arnav wondered why Payal seemed so normal and happy when Khushi had been so distraught on the phone to him only moments ago. Wouldn't Khushi have told her sister if there was any problem? Or was all of this just another one of Khushi's childish pranks?

He really wasn't sure what to expect as he walked into Khushi's room. The family's attitude towards him didn't really fit the idea in his head that Khushi had broached the subject of marriage and they'd flat out refused. They seemed to be treating him exactly as they had when he'd seen them last week. Which meant that Khushi was refusing to marry him of her own volition.

He walked into the room to see her on the bed, covers over her head and her body shaking underneath clearly crying. 'Khushi,' he called softly as he sat next to her.

Khushi sat up immediately pushing away the covers and  throwing herself at Arnav sobbing into his shoulder.

'Khushi? Shhh, don't cry. Tell me what happened.'

'A...Arnav, we can't get married.'

Arnav rolled his eyes and pulled Khushi closer to him, 'I heard you the first time Khushi. Now do you want to explain why you think we can't?'

Khushi moved back wiping her tears and then her nose with her scarf as Arnav grimaced slightly. 'You know Jiji? Jiji and Akashji?'

'Yes, I'm familiar with them.'

'And you know how they're going to get married?'

'Yes?'

'Well Babuji said today I can't get married until Jiji does and you know Naniji says Akashji can't get married until you do!' She broke out into loud sobs again as Arnav sighed in relief and exasperation.

'Is that it? I left a meeting to come here because I thought you were breaking up with me and all you're doing is exaggerating and making such a big deal over such a small thing?'

'What? You think this isn't a big deal? I am breaking up with you! You have to marry somebody, then Akashji and Jiji can get married and then I'll have to marr...'

Arnav clasped his hand over Khushi's mouth. 'Don't ever talk, you know what, don't even think about marrying someone else Khushi. It's not going to happen,' he said harshly.

'But Arnav...' Khushi said against his hand before Arnav replaced his hand with his lips as he hauled Khushi onto his lap.

'Arnav how can we...'

'Khushi, I really don't think your Babuji or Nani will stick to their ideas once they realise we want to get married to each other.'

'But if they...'

'If they do, then I have a solution.'

'You think we should run away don't you? Arnav I don't think I can..'

'Khushi! Will you stop your nonsensical chatter for just one second and let me speak?' She pouted and Arnav kissed her again quickly before he continued. 'We're not running away! If they don't agree, although I'm pretty sure they will, we could all just get married on the same day. Therefore no one has to get married before anyone else. Understand?'

Khushi broke out into a wide smile and clutched Arnav's collar excitedly, 'really? You mean me and Jiji will get married on the same day? That would be so amazing! I can't believe it, Jiji will be so happy to hear this!'

Arnav smiled at her enthusiasm, 'I feel like you're happier about getting married on the same day as your sister than you are about getting married to me.'

Khushi lifted one hand from his collar to his jaw before she adopted a very serious expression, 'I am! Marrying you is just a bonus on the side.'

'Bonus? Oh I'll show you bonus,' he pushed Khushi back onto the bed and fell on top of her and kissed her neck.

'Arnav! Stop it! Somebody will see!'

'Good! You promised me you'd tell your parents today and you haven't so I'll have to let them know in my own style.'

Khushi laughed as she pushed Arnav away and sat up, 'okay, okay I'm going to tell them now... Will you come with me?'

Arnav sat up, running his hand through his hair and fixing his shirt, 'I thought you wanted to tell them yourself?'

'I did, but you coming with me will just be a bonus,' she said cheekily before she got off the bed and ran to the living room escaping Arnav's outstretched arm.