OS: Good Night, and Good Luck

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OS: Good Night, and Good Luck

‘Okay Amma, I’m going. I’ll be back soon. If Arnavji asks just tell him I’ve gone to meet Sarita okay?’

Garima laughed and shook her head ‘so you want me to lie for you?’

‘But Amma! It’s not lying! I really am going to Sarita’s house.’

‘Aah, but you’re not going there to meet Sarita are you? You’re going over to see your Viren aren’t you?’

Khushi giggled and blushed as she remembered the precap for today had shown Viren in just a vest and she was reminded of Arnav when he’d lifted the weights so effortlessly and then how gorgeous he’d looked dripping wet with water.

 ‘Okay, okay go.’ Garima smiled indulgently still unable to believe that Khushi was married; she was still so child-like in so many ways. ‘I won’t tell Damaadji what you’re really doing; but come back soon.’

‘Of course Amma! An hour maximum!’

‘An hour? Why so long?’

Khushi grinned, ‘well I need to spend some time analysing everything with Sarita afterwards don’t I?’

‘Badmaash,’ Garima called behind Khushi as she skipped out of the back door.

Arnav had been on his way to the kitchen for some water when he’d heard Garima talk about lying for Khushi and had stayed beyond his best judgement to hear the rest of the conversation. As he heard her leave he stalked back to their room and began pacing up and down.

Who was this Viren? He knew Sarita was Khushi’s friend but he’d never heard anyone mention Viren before. Maybe it was Sarita’s brother? But why was Khushi going to meet him? Not that he cared of course.

In fact it was good if she had someone new, maybe this finally meant whatever had been between her and Shyam was now over?  He’d seen nothing in their recent interactions to even suggest they were still together and he’d been watching closely for any hints. Khushi didn’t even seem to register Shyam’s presence most of the time. So maybe it was true? Maybe she had moved onto this Viren now. Yes this was good. Right?

And Aunty? How could she agree to lie so easily for Khushi? Would she really support Khushi in cheating on him? Cheating on him? How could she cheat on him when they didn’t even have a real relationship?

No, none of this made any sense.  He quickly turned on his heel out of the room and out of the front door scanning the houses surrounding the Gupta house trying to remember which one Khushi had pointed out as Sarita’s when they’d first arrived. Finding the one he wanted he almost jogged towards it before coming to a stop in front of the door.

Did he really want to go inside? What if he saw... He didn't think he could handle witnessing a scene like that again. Arnav turned to go back when the door opened behind him.

'Damaandji!'

He turned back around to see one of the Aunties he'd met at Buaji's house, Bimla or Vimla or something.

'Oh er... hello Aunty I was just...'

'Did you need to see Khushi? Just go through, she's in Sarita's room over there.'

Arnav smiled weakly and walked hesitantly towards the room she'd indicated, his legs feeling as if they were weighted down with 20 pound weights.

The door was slightly ajar and his breathing became heavier as his mind replayed the scene it had witnessed 3 months ago on a constant loop.

'He's taking his shirt off, he's taking his shirt off!'

The sound of Khushi squealing and giggling surprised him and he leaned forward to look through the gap. He almost smiled in disbelief when he realised Khushi and Sarita were on the bed with their backs to him watching a TV show where there was indeed a man who’d just taken his shirt off.

‘God Khushi you’re so lucky!’

Khushi shot Sarita a look, ‘what? Don’t you mean Jeevika? Viren is such a sweet husband and so good looking!’

‘No I meant Arnavji! He’s just as good looking as Viren!’

Khushi shifted in her seat feeling a bit uncomfortable at Sarita openly drooling about Arnavji and also at the insinuation that Arnavji was as sweet as Viren. ‘Oh, erm... yes of course. I really am so... lucky.’

‘You know you and Payal are just like Jeevika and Maanvi! Two sisters and two brothers! It’s so romantic. I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me about you two Khushi. What happened? How did he propose? Were there lights and flowers like you wanted? Go on, tell me please!’

‘I’m sorry Sarita, you know everything just happened in a rush. There was no time at all or I would have told you every detail!’

Sarita pouted, ‘liar. You still haven’t told me why you broke your first engagement.’

Khushi felt a shiver of disgust travel up her spine as she remembered that she’d once been engaged to Shyam. ‘Leave it please Sarita, I don’t want to talk about that. Look the adverts have finished!’

Arnav walked away slowly, relieved and confused. He’d stormed over to Sarita’s absolutely sure he’d catch Khushi in-flagrante with some man and instead found her innocently watching a TV show and as always covering up his misdemeanours with lies.

He went back into the house and back to pacing up and down in the bedroom. He’d been wrong today, what if... what if he’d been wrong before? Could it be possible, he’d been mistaken? He went over every one of their interactions and everything he knew about Khushi as he continued to pace and wear away the carpet under his feet.

When Khushi returned half an hour later it was as if he was seeing her for the first time. Beautiful, young and undeniably innocent. She came into the room hesitantly, still avoiding him from their earlier argument. He swallowed heavily and quickly moved, blocking her way as she walked towards the bathroom.

‘Hi.’

Khushi looked up shocked as she heard him, sounding exactly as he had done on the morning of Jiji's Mehndi. That day had built so many hopes and dreams in her heart, only to have them broken the very next day.

'Goodnight,' she said quietly and walked past him into the bathroom closing the door behind her.