The First Five Times - Five

The first five times that Khushi and Arnav didn't meet

Five.

'When she comes into your life you won't even realise and she'll become your whole world.'

Arnav leaned against the doorframe, looking out at his garden and reflected on Anjali's words. The emptiness inside him, the feeling of loneliness, of being incomplete was always with him but never more so than now.

A rough gust of wind swept through his garden retreat. It jolted awake the plants which had fallen into a soothing slumber in the cool Delhi night before swirling around Arnav reminding him of his own humanity.

If Di was right, were these lonely nights coming to an end? Would he have a companion, a friend to sit beside him and fill the ache in his heart? Would she soothe his bruised soul with gentle kisses and loving words?

But how could he give so much power to someone else? How could he let his happiness, his existence and his world rest in someone else's palm?

It was simple. He couldn't.

---

'Khushi, only a crazy man would marry you.'

Khushi knew exactly the kind of man she wanted to marry. A man who would know the value of small gestures; a man who would appreciate a saree worn just for him, would buy her packets of channe on his way home from work and eat the heaps of jalebis she would make him with a smile on his face.

She gazed up at the stars, wondering if her deceased parents already knew who she would marry. Perhaps they were watching him at this very moment, checking to see if he was suitable for their daughter.

Perhaps he was in Lucknow this very minute waiting for her. Maybe she would meet him as soon as tomorrow, when they finally returned?

How long would Devi Maiyya make her wait?

---

Tu hi bata mere maula

Tu hi bata mere rabba

Faaslein milon ke hai

Dono hai alag disha

Kabhi yeh mil payenge nahi kisiko hai pata