Lavanya was out shopping with a cousin of hers who has come to India for vacation.

That’s when she bumped into someone.

Lavanya looked up with a frown and was surprised to see Lisa staring down her nose with that haughty look on her face.

“Lisaa..” Lavanya greeted, not showing the dislike on her face.

“La..” Lisa greeted her back, not hiding her dislike as Lavanya did.

“Heard ASR dumped you” Lisa asked with a smirk on her face and Lavanya felt it stab right into her heart. But she didn’t show it on her face. She kept her smile intact.

“Dump? Not exactly! We parted ways on good terms” Lavanya said, adopting a cool look on her face.

“Semantics..” Lisa said with a chuckle.

Lavanya clenched her teeth, wanting to get away from this poisonous woman.

“Heard that AR’s next calendar shoot is due in a few days. Who is the model? I am on a vacation for a week. I can come over if you want” Lisa said in an attitude as if she is doing some service to AR.

Lavanya cringed remembering what all chaos Lisa brought down the last time. Then a smile appeared on her face. Lisa had issues with Khushi the last time. And Lisa is never one to forget her grudges. So, if she comes to AR and sees Khushi, she will definitely cause issues.

And unlike the last time, ASR wouldn’t simply stand by and watch if Lisa troubles Khushi in any way.

“When you say that, I guess that’s a good idea. I will let you know in a couple of days, Lisa” Lavanya said with an extra sweet voice and gave air kisses before hurrying away from there, leaving Lisa a bit confused at her ready agreement.

****

Arnav watched Lavanya and Khushi laugh over something.

He placed his thumb and forefinger on his forehead and rubbed there.

The woman he loves and his ex fiance..

The sooner he says this to Lavanya, the better.

Khushi wouldn’t want her friendship with Lavanya ruined in any way.

Arnav walked out of his cabin towards the two ladies. He looked at Khushi and she as usual ignored him. He let out a resigned sigh and turned towards Lavanya.

“Lavanya, be ready in half an hour. We are going out for lunch” Arnav said and left from there, thinking of how he could explain things to Lavanya without hurting her any more than he already did.

Khushi froze as she heard his words.

Arnav is taking Lavanya out for lunch? Why did it make her feel so annoyed and hurt?

Lavanya was confused too. She threw a sideways glance at Khushi and saw the frown on her face.

“Uhh Chamkili…” Lavanya called out softly and Khushi pasted a smile on her face which, Lavanya noticed, didn’t reach her eyes.

“Okay Lavanya ji. Carry on then. I will go and help jiji with the embroidery works” Khushi said and hurried away from there with a heavy heart.

Why are they going out for lunch?

Does he want to rekindle their relationship? Talk it out with her and give their relationship another chance?

Scary thoughts entered her head and it wouldn’t go.

But he said he loves me, didn’t he? Khushi asked herself.

He must have said the same to Lavanya ji too. He might have said the same to Lisa ji too before that. Who knows, he might have said the same to Sheetal ji too during his college days. Her brain taunted.

‘Okay Khushi. Stop thinking of him. Let him go out with anybody he wants. It shouldn’t matter to you. He is the man who locked you away in the monstrous Sheesh Mahal because of a misunderstanding. He is the man who aired the video footage of them and ruined her reputation just because she stood against him. He is the man who made your life a hell for the six months you worked for him. The same man who broke your stupid heart on diwali night. It is better to stay away from him. Else he will break you completely’ Khushi told herself and pushed all thoughts of Arnav into the deepest darkest corner of her heart and focused on her work she is being paid to do.

*****

Lavanya stared at ASR in fascination as he drummed his fingers on the table. A clear sign of nervousness.

Nervous? ASR?

What’s happening here?

“ASR? All okay?” Lavanya asked and Arnav let out a sigh.

“Lavanya, I don’t like beating around the bush. Let me get straight to the point” ASR said in a serious tone.

“Okay” Lavanya said, still confused at ASR’s strange behaviour.

“It has been a while since we broke up. I know I have hurt you very badly. And I haven’t even said a genuine apology for that” ASR said.

“ASR, it’s okay. As I said before, you were very clear about what you expect from this relationship from the beginning. No love, no marriage. I broke the rules” Lavanya said with a sad smile.

“I couldn’t go forward with our relationship not because I don’t believe in love or marriages” Arnav said.

“Because you fell in love with chamkili.” Lavanya said with a soft smile and Arnav looked at her in shock..

“Lavanya.. I- I don’t-”

“It’s okay, ASR. You don’t have to give me any explanations. I have known it long back. I refused to believe it.” Lavanya said with a chuckle.

“I am sorry, Lavanya. I didn’t want it to happen. I tried fighting my feelings, but I couldn’t help it. It has reached a stage where I cannot even imagine a life without her” Arnav said.

“So? Are you guys together now?” Lavanya asked and Arnav sighed.

“You know how stubborn she is. She wouldn’t even look at me. She runs a mile if she sees me anywhere near. And she refuses to believe that I am genuine about my feelings” ASR said.

“Well, after what you made her go through, you can hardly expect her to fall into your lap at a snap of your finger.” Lavanya said sarcastically and Arnav sighed in resignation.

Neither of them noticed the third person sitting on the table next to them and listening to every single word of their conversation.