THE WAIT - Chapter 3A

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CHAPTER 3A



KHUSHI GUPTA


Shyam is the first one to break the silence between us as he hears Arnav’s denial to hear me out in his absence.

“Well..” he lets out a soft chuckle. “Though I have no clue what Khushi wants to speak to you, Arnav, and trust me I am very curious to know, but I think by blatantly denying to hear her out you are hurting her.”

Arnav doesn’t say a word. He keeps staring at me as if challenging me to forget what I want to speak and walk out. His way of dealing with me in this situation is so much different from how Dhruv was. Dhruv was always a charmer. He would never insult a woman by his words or actions unlike his twin Arnav.

But if Arnav thinks he can intimidate me, he is wrong. I’m not leaving until I declare my decision on our alliance. I always knew Arnav Singh Raizada had an attitude as high as a mountain. Shyam tosses his head between me and Arnav as I keep glaring at the latter, the silence in the room stretching, and the tension between us increasing tenfold.

“I… I think you should listen to her once,” Shyam tries to take my side.

I don’t know if I really see him doing this or is it my hallucination but for a brief seconds, Arnav’s gaze drifts down to my lips, before meeting my eyes again. And this time, he doesn’t deny my offer.

“Okay,” he gives the faintest nod, as if a slight better than that could have sprained his neck.

Shyam exhales in relief that we are on the same page and is about to leave us alone when I interrupt.

“You don’t need to leave, Shyam.” I say before returning my gaze on Arnav. “You rejected my marriage proposal thinking I’m not interested, didn’t you?”

He looks a bit stunned as I bring up this topic again. It takes all of my courage to speak to him what I am here for.

“I’m ready to marry you, Arnav Singh Raizada,” I swallow painfully, as tears well up in my eyes. “Now the ball is in your court.”

Before tears can roll down my eyes, I walk out of the cabin, shocking the two men behind.


ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA

My heart is pounding at Khushi’s sudden declaration. Did she just agree to marry me? Is she even in her sane mind to decide that?

“Khushi wait..” Shyam tries to stop Khushi from leaving my cabin but she sprints out to hide her tears. Yep! I had seen them flooding in her eyes when she gave her acceptance to marry me.

“God! What is happening here..” Shyam says in frustration. I compose myself to look at him. “I’m so sorry about this, Arnav. I really don’t know why she said that. I mean.. such a big decision of her life, Khushi would never take without discussing with me.”

I don’t mean to be rude but I can’t help smiling sarcastically over his remark. She has been hiding such an important truth about her and Dhruv from both the families from past so many months and yet, no one could read her heart? That she wasn’t upset because of her breakup but because the man she was in love with was no more in this world.

“I’ll go check on her.” Shyam adds, taking his laptop from the table. “And I.. I don’t know what to say to you. But…”

“Don’t bother,” I shrug with a smile again. “I didn’t take that declaration seriously.”


He throws at me an even more confused look.

“She’s just under some pressure to be a good daughter,” I add. “Tell her that she doesn’t need to think of others feelings towards our alliance happening.”

Shyam nods.

“Thanks for being so understanding, Arnav. I really appreciate that. I think Khushi is doing this for Dad because he was really very hopeful and rooting for you both from quite a few years..”


Years! I swallow. Yes. I knew that too. Shashi uncle liked me and trusted me more than Dhruv in every angle. He thought I was more responsible than any of my siblings. Maybe I was but that doesn’t mean he would marry me off to Khushi without she wanting the same from her heart.

“I’ll go check in her. See you on weekend.” Shyam says patting my arm.

I nod, giving him a hug before he leaves my cabin. The weekend!! Both the families have planned to spend the weekend at Raizada farmhouse which is around 100 kms away from Delhi city where we reside. Before the pre-wedding rituals begin, the two families want to unwind and gear up for the upcoming wedding which is due in two weeks. I’m going to deny spending time with them in the farm house because the only place I would like to stick to is away from Khushi. If I be close to her, only God knows I wouldn’t be able to hide my feelings for her, which I know Di has already started suspecting.

KHUSHI GUPTA


“Khushi..” Shyam and I get down the car, reaching home again. He pestered me a lot to tell me the real reason why I suddenly agreed to marry Arnav but I promised to tell him only once we reach home.

He holds my hand.

“Tell me now.” He demands. “You told me you will tell me everything once we reach home. We are home. Now tell me why you are doing this? Are you doing this for Dad? Then please don’t. Ever since my engagement and after I spoke to him that night, he has understood that he cannot force you to marry like that.”

“It’s not just for Dad, Shyam,” I give him my honest reply. “I know he is the main reason behind my change of mind but I know he wishes the best for me. If he thinks Arnav is that man whom his daughter will be happy with, then I want that same man in my life, no one else.”

“Means dad will point out at anyone and you’ll just nod your head and agree? Are you kidding me, Khushi? You are not like this. You were never like this. You argued to make us understand your point and let you do things on your terms. Where is that Khushi?”


That Khushi and her spirit died along with the man she loves.. Dhruv!!

“Khushi,” Shyam shakes me. “I’m not letting you do this madness. I know Arnav is a great man. In fact, I am happy to know he is still taking your side. Before I could tell him, he told me not to take your declaration seriously. That man is… really.. hats off. I appreciate how he understands you.. But..”

“He didn’t take my declaration seriously?” I inquire, interrupting him.

“Yes. He didn’t. You can be reckless not him. Arnav has never taken decisions in haste. And that’s the best thing about him.”

I clench my jaw. How can he not?

“Does.. does he have a girlfriend already?” I ask for my clarification.

Shyam rolls his eyes.

“If that will change your mind about this alliance, then yes he has a girlfriend.”

I hit his arm.

“I am seriously asking you this. Please don’t lie to me.”

Shyam groans in frustration.

“No. He doesn’t. I’ve never heard him dating a woman .. ever!! I mean, how can someone not even date anyone in all these years?” Shyam replies.


He is right to ask that. Even Dhruv once told me that his twin had no girlfriends ever. He said that Arnav thinks his heart is wired that way.. To not fall into the complexities of relationships.

“Anyway, listen to me very carefully, now.” Shyam grips my arm. “Whatever happened today between you, me and Arnav, stays between us. None of us is going to speak about it to our families. Let’s not get them involved. Maybe you came into the pressure of marrying because of dad but period!! This topic is over.”


He cups my face.

“My sister will marry when she wants to marry and is in love again. Never before that.”

I smile back at him but I know I was soon going to convince him too and get married to Dhruv’s twin because that was the best thing to do.

NEXT PART 

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Rohan Oberoi

'Our Friendship was strong, but our Love?'

Adventurous, fun-loving and obsessed with my luxury cars, I knew exactly what I wanted from life until I met my college ex-bestie, Ishika Bhatia as the new lead designer of my jewelry brand, after a decade. Her reckless decisions in the past broke my heart and trust, ruining me for every other woman. Whilst I tried to shield my heart again from her, Ishika’s sassiness kept overpowering my tantrums. And then it happened. One unforeseen kiss and I knew this time she was in for more. A lot more!! But was I ready to reignite that love?

Ishika Bhatia

'I navigated the engine of our friendship, while he throttled the gears of his love.'

They say life is a race, and racing had been my only passion. So, when destiny played its card and brought me face to face with my best friend Rohan Oberoi, I didn't want to miss out on our only chance to rekindle our friendship. I knew I'd ruined what we had once. But don’t I deserve a second chance? No matter how much Rohan remained cold, distant and indifferent to my feelings for him, I was determined to turn his enduring grumpiness in my favour and fix our relationship, even if it meant snatching him against his will. And then it happened. One unplanned kiss and I knew this was just the beginning. But was I willing to cross the boundaries of friendship and ignite the flames of love?

Unrequited love is hard to live. But what if you get a second chance? Get ready for this super cute standalone romance of #Roshika (Rohan & Ishika) to race your hearts with their happily ever after.

Though this book can be read as a Standalone, to read Rohan and Ishika's Cameo roles, you can read the following books:

Mr and Mrs Kapoor (Vansh Kapoor and Vidhi Gupta’s Hidden Marriage Romance)

Love By Chance (Sameer Khanna and Tanisha Gupta’s Slow Burn Arranged Marriage Romance)