Chapter 30 Frozen hearts...will they melt by Deepti
Chapter 30
“Ya it’s HIM”, replied Kushi innocently albeit she was amused to see the blood drain from Abhay’s face.
“Hi!”, said Arnav extending his hand towards Abhay. Coming out of his shock Abhay took is hand and shook it while his eyes shuttled between Arnav and Kushi.
“You seem to be quite surprised to see me here”, said Arnav, releasing Abhay’s hand from his firm grip.
“Nothing like that! Let’s take a seat”, said Abhay trying to divert the topic.
He was all set to pull the chair next to his for Kushi when Arnav came in his way saying, “It’s okay! I will help her out”, pulling the chair opposite to Abhay for Kushi.
Kushi raised her eyebrows and sat in that chair enjoying the attention she was getting from both the men. After making sure that she was comfortable, Arnav sat in the chair which was next to Abhay, placing himself between Abhay and Kushi.
Arnav was the last person on earth Abhay was expecting to see as Kushi’s lover and was flabbergasted to find him here, seated right next to her. He stared at the duo for couple of seconds and then shook his head as he was still not able to digest the fact that they were indeed a couple. While Abhay picked up the glass in front of him and gulped down the water to calm himself, it became nearly impossible for Kushi to refrain herself from laughing, looking at his confused state.
Placing the glass back on the table, ” Don’t get me wrong but how come you both? I mean, as far as I remember you both confirmed that you were not in any kind of relationship”, said Abhay.
“DID WE???….WHEN??, asked Kushi looking at Abhay as if she heard something unbelievable.
“The other day, when I met you both at The Taj. “, said Abhay reminding her about the day when he tried to intervene between them.
“Ohhhh that day!!!That was nothing!! Actually we had a very big quarrel on that day and we were quite mad at each other. I hope you know how it is when a couple fights. All they speak is just pure nonsense. But in reality they don’t mean anything which they say”, said Kushi giving a very good explanation to Abhay. ” Isn’t it!!”, she added turning towards Arnav.
Arnav was amazed to see the way she handled the situation and he simply nodded his head in agreement to her explanation.
“Ya, though I myself never got to experience one, I have seen my parents quarrel a couple of time over trivial issues.Oh boy!!These quarrels between a couple!!I now have a clear cut picture about my future life.Thanks to my parents for giving me some exposure”, said Abhay on a lighter note.
As Arnav and Kushi smiled in response, ” Let’s order something. What would you like to have? Coffee or tea?”, asked Abhay, addressing the duo.
“A black coffee for him and a tea for me”, said Kushi answering on behalf of both of them.
“So she knows what I prefer. Must have noticed at home. Interesting!!“, thought Arnav, looking intently at Kushi.
Once he placed the order, ” So when did it start?”, asked Abhay out of the blue.
“What started?”, asked Kushi not understanding his question.
“THE LOVE, between you two”, clarified Abhay.
Kushi paused for a second and said, ” Oh that! It started the day we were born”.
Arnav, who was sipping water from his glass, had a cough hearing her answer.As he shut his mouth to prevent himself from spitting the water, his cough became vigorous and he started coughing profusely. Kushi got up from her seat and started patting him on his back while she handed him a napkin that was laid on the table.
Once his cough subsided, ” I’m okay!”, said Arnav gesturing her to take her seat without missing the concern which flickered in her eyes.
“So it all started the day you were born. Interesting!! This reminds me of a movie. There is this movie where a guy and girl are born on the same day, in the same hospital where they meet for the first time. Though they get separated, they meet after 20 long years and fall in love. Hope your story is not similar to that movie”, said Abhay.
“Looks like he is a big movie buff…don’t adapt any scenes from any movie Kushi. You will be caught red handed. Get creative and make him believe”, thought Kushi looking at Abhay.
” It isn’t. Actually, we were not born on the same day. He is three years older than me”, said Kushi pointing her hand towards Arnav.
“Is it! Then how come you said it started on the day you were born?”, asked Abhay raising his doubt.
“I didn’t mean that it started when WE WERE born. I meant that it started the day when I WAS born.”, said Kushi correcting her statement.
“Interesting!! So a three year old Arnav fell in love with a new born!!”, teased Abhay looking at Arnav.
As Arnav stared at Kushi, ” Seeing my chubby cheeks and dimple chin. Isn’t it!”, said Kushi pleading him with her eyes to agree on it.
“I myself don’t remember what I saw when I was three. And here she is bluffing as if she witnessed everything”, thought Arnav looking intently at Kushi. While his piercing glance made her nervous, Kushi picked up her glass and sipped some water from it.
” You said that he was initially your boyfriend but later became your lover. So how..”, Abhay couldn’t complete his sentence as Kushi spit the water in her mouth hearing his words.
“Sorry!!”, said Kushi looking in the direction of Arnav.
“DID YOU SAY THAT TO HIM?”, asked Arnav incredulously.
As Kushi gave a sheepish grin to him, ” What happened? Any problem?”, asked Abhay, not understanding what was going on between the duo.
“It’s nothing. It’s just that he doesn’t like to share our little secrets with anyone”, said Kushi trying to cover up.
“UNBELIEVABLE!!”, said Arnav who was astonished to see her lying with such spontaneity.
“It’s not her mistake, Arnav. It was me. Actually the situation was like that. She had to tell me about it. Please don’t get mad at her”, said Abhay trying to defend Kushi.
“ God!!This guy is taking it completely in a difference sense”, thought Arnav feeling sorry for Abhay.
As Kushi gave him a pleading look gesturing him to keep quiet, ” WHATEVER!!”, said Arnav shrugging his shoulders. Grabbing the coffee mug which the waiter placed in front of him, he started sipping his coffee, to get some caffeine into his system.
Abhay continued his speech by sharing the entire conversation that took place between him and Kushi, on the day he visited Shantiwan. He tried to prove Kushi’s innocence by putting the facts in front of Arnav. He thought that he was helping Kushi by doing this but little did he know that he was pushing her into more trouble.
“Oh God!! Why can’t this guy just shut his mouth. Why is he telling him everything, including my dreams and goals”, thought Kushi who felt like banging her head somewhere.
Arnav paid great attention to everything which Abhay said. And when he came to know about how Kushi is hell bound to make her former boyfriend and present lover as her future husband, he couldn’t control his smile. As he looked at her, Kushi noticed the glint of naughtiness in his eyes and was positive that he will definitely use all this information against her in the near future. She felt like hiding under the table but unfortunately as she couldn’t do that, she moved restlessly in her seat.
“I hope you understand Arnav”, said Abhay concluding his speech.
“You made him understand more than what he is required to..”, muttered Kushi, cursing Abhay under her breath for leaking out all her secrets to Arnav.
When Arnav gave his assurance with a gentle nod, Abhay felt relieved for clearing the misunderstanding between the couple and resumed his interest in knowing about their love story.
“I heard that both your families stay together. So did you both grow up together?”, asked Abhay.
“Yes”, replied Arnav.
“Thank God!! He finally opened his mouth to answer something”, thought Kushi.
“Growing up together must have been real fun. How many couples get such a rare opportunity. You both must have been best friends since your childhood “, said Abhay.
The duo jerked hearing his statement and stared at each other as they recollected their childhood fights.
“Am I right??”, asked Abhay, whose words made them to break the stare.
” You will get a heart attack if you come to know that we were and are the best enemies…till date” , thought Kushi.
However, saving him from the heart attack, she said, “Ya, you are right!!”
“So, when did this friendship turn into love???Who was the first one to propose”, asked Abhay with great curiosity.
And the response came from both of them at the same time. While “HE”, said Kushi pointing her finger towards Arnav, “SHE”, said Arnav pointing his finger towards Kushi, leaving Abhay completely baffled.
Thanks for the update!
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