Chapter Twenty Two

"Awwwwwww!!!"

Arnav and Khushi instantly shot apart, the two staring wide eyed at Deviyani, Anjali, and Avantika.

"It's about freaking time," Avantika exclaimed.

"Look at how they're blushing," Anjali gushed.

In Arnav's defense, he wouldn't have been blushing if it were just his sisters and not his grandmother having caught them in their position.

"Oh I'm so happy," Deviyani smiled. "It truly is about time!"

Avantika came dashing over to them and sat in between them, breaking their hold. She wrapped her arms around the two and gave them a tight squeeze. "I'm so happy! I'm so happy! I'm so happy!!!"

"For the love of-! Not in my ear Chatterbox," Arnav exclaimed, Avantika instantly loosening her hold and scowling at him.

Anjali came over, chuckling. "Let them be Avantika. After all, they have just only claimed their love for each other."

Khushi looked down, blushing. Anjali went over to her and held her hand out to her, Khushi taking it and standing up.

"I'm going to assume Chote told you everything and that I knew of his feelings for you?"

Khushi continued to look down but nodded.

"Do you understand why I never told you anything from his side?"

Khushi shook her head.

"It wasn't my place to; how Chote felt for you or how you felt for him - after a good explanation from that lawyer husband of mine, I realized that, that was for you two to tell each other. And this misunderstanding you two had, could only be disputed between you two. Me being the messenger or an insider wouldn't have been the right thing. Do you understand now?"

Khushi looked up at her and nodded. Anjali smiled at her and kissed her forehead before turning to Arnav. "We'll leave you two alone now, take care of her and don't take too long," she winked.

Anjali, Avantika, and Deviyani left, giggling like little girls. Khushi still couldn't believe it that they knew, not to mention that any of this was happening. Arnav looked up at her and saw that Khushi was distracted, so naturally, he had to take advantage of the moment.

Arnav grabbed Khushi's hand and pulled her to him, quickly moving his hands to her waist and holding her in front of him. Khushi looked down at him in shock, Arnav grinning up at her.

"I missed that look on your face," he grinned.

Khushi rolled her eyes and arched her eyebrow at him.

"Looks like more than half of the family knows about us." Arnav rested his chin over her stomach. "What do we do now?"

But Khushi couldn't think clearly. She remembered the old days when she would do this to Arnav, gripping onto the sides of his T-shirt and asking him 100 questions, irritating the crap out of him! However while Arnav's T-shirt covered his flesh, her choli wasn't helping her and exposed most of her flesh, and the feeling of his beard against her not only tickled but gave a strange sensation she had never felt before.

Arnav noticed the expression on her face and at first was confused. But then he realized his actions.

And he had no regrets.

"Am I making you nervous?"

Khushi blinked down at him and looked into his eyes. She could see something form within them, but was confused. There was something dark forming, and Khushi gulped. Before she could think of anything else, Arnav playfully tried to nip at her bellybutton and Khushi instantly shut her eyes, pulling back slightly as a little squeal escaped her throat, surprising her. Even Arnav was surprised but he was mostly happy.

Once again he rested his chin against her. "Its interesting how I can always get these sounds out of you."

Khushi met his eyes again. The darkness within them faded and Arnav stood up, his hold still on her.

"I know that after what happened to you...."

Khushi glanced away.

"I swear, if I ever come across that fucker, he's fucking done for," he growled.

She felt his anger course through him and she immediately gripped his arm. Arnav instantly relaxed and he looked at her. He placed a kiss on her forehead and his lips lingered there.

"I understand that it was a traumatic experience, and there may be certain things that might trigger it like last time..."

Khushi remembered the last time it happened but immediately forced out if her mind.

"...but I'll do whatever I can to help you. "

Khushi slightly pulled back to look at him. Arnav smiled at her softly, wrapping his arms around her.

"I'll always be by your side Khushi, count on it. If anyone tries to lay their hands on you again, I'll make them regret it. I'll never let anyone hurt you again babe, ever."

Khushi smiled softly, bringing her nose to his, nuzzling him. I love you.

*~*

Going back to the party, hand in hand, Arnav and Khushi rejoined his sisters, Shyam, and Virat. From the look on his face, the two could tell Shyam knew, and him and Arnav did their little handshake.

"Honestly, its about time that this has happened," Shyam grinned.

"Did everyone know about us all this time," Arnav asked.

"No duh," Avantika said with a roll of her eyes, and the others chuckled.

"Congrats you two," Virat grinned, hugging the two, and Arnav instantly scowled at him.

"Protective already, hmm," Virat teased, and Khushi blushed. "But no worries, no worries, I won't be bothering you two."

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Honestly though, its about time. I'm really happy for you guys," he smiled humbly.

"Thanks man. By the way, Di, did Nani say anything to mom and dad?"

"Don't worry, she's keeping her mouth shut... for now."

"What-? What's that supposed to mean?"

Anjali shrugged and wrapped her arms around Shyam's arm. "You know how she can be."

"Geez," Arnav muttered below his breath, but Khushi heard and nudged him. "What?"

Khushi frowned at him. Respect her, would you?

"But what if she tells my parents? I don't need Ma screaming her head off."

Khushi nudged him again. Arnav!

"What?"

Everyone else chuckled around them, bringing the new couples' attention back to them.

"Ugh, I'm so glad everything worked out between you two," Avantika said. "I really missed this... this vibe."

"Agreed," the others said.

"Also-"

But before Virat could get the rest of his words out, he was cut off by none other than Sana Kapoor herself.

"Hey! You guys actually came," she shrilled.

Khushi glanced at Avantika and saw that she was trying really hard not to scowl. She quickly took hold of her hand and gave it a light squeeze, calming Avantika without anyone noticing.

"So are you guys enjoying yourselves," she asked, flashing her doe-like eyes at Arnav and Virat.

The feeling of jealousy Khushi had felt the other day, didn't pop up this time. Maybe it was because of the fact that she knew Arnav loved her, that she didn't feel the need to be jealous.

"Yeah, it's a great party," Anjali said. "Lots of people, hmm?"

"Oh, yeah, my family knows a lot of people," she chuckled lightly. "From family friends, friends from the country club, business partners - you know, the usual."

Anjali hummed in response.

"Did you guys eat? The food is just amazing!"

"Oh heck yeah, my stomach is absolutely satisfied," Virat grinned.

Avantika rolled her eyes, glancing at Khushi. Khushi knew she was getting irritated, especially when Avantika released her hand from her hold and crossed her arms.

"Oh, Ava! Your outfit is so nice! And that shade of green though," Sana smiled.

Khushi tried hard not to purse her lips; she understood very clearly from Sana's voice that her enthusiasm was absolutely fake, no matter how hard she tried to lace it with sugar.

"Oh why thank you! It's from Sabyasachi, so I simply couldn't wait to wear it," Avantika gushed.

Khushi was confused. Did she not understand that Sana just tried to shade her?

"I like your outfit too," Avantika continued. "I think I've seen it before... oh yes," Avantika exclaimed, cutting Sana off before she could say anything, "I think I saw Sunny Leone wearing it or was it Rakhi Sawant," she wondered.

Whether it was true or not, Khushi had no clue, but she knew for a fact that Avantika had just thrown major shade. Not only her, but Khushi noticed the looks on Anjali's and Shyam's face as well, and knew that they had caught on as well.

"The pink is cute though," Avantika grinned with a casual shrug.

Sana gave a smile, though it didn't seem humble. "Oh, looks like someone is calling me, enjoy yourselves though," and she walked away.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Anjali turned to her sister. "Wow baby sis, way to go."

The two fist-pounded each other with a chuckle.

"Bitch had it coming," Avantika shrugged.

Arnav cocked his eyebrow at his baby sister. "Really chatterbox?"

"Look Bhai, I don't expect a guy like you to get it, although maybe you eventually will thanks to Khushi, but this egghead over here, I totally don't expect him to," she said, looking at Virat.

"What," he replied with innocence.

Avantika rolled her eyes. "Whatever, at least I look classy and sophisticated unlike that desperate plastic skank."

Khushi scowled at Avantika, as did the others.

"Hey," Arnav scowled.

"Oh please, you think she wore something as indecent as that for no reason? Puh-leez! All she wants is to put all these guys' dicks in fucking wheelchairs-!"

"That's enough, I don't ever want hear that kind of shit out of your mouth ever again," Arnav scowled.

But Avantika simply shrugged, by which Khushi understood that even though Avantika wouldn't be saying stuff like that around her brother again, it sure didn't mean she would stop thinking it nor saying it around her or others.

"Ugh, I need a drink and a pep talk, where's Nani," and Avantika walked away.

"What the-?"

"I'll go after her," Anjali said. "Babe?"

Shyam nodded and followed after her, the two going after Avantika. Meanwhile, Arnav, Khushi, and Virat stayed behind, Arnav shaking his head.

"I simply cannot understand her childish antics," Arnav sighed.

Khushi frowned at him and Arnav looked at her in confusion. She placed her forehead in her hand, confusing not just Arnav but Virat as well.

"I really don't understand you females sometimes," Virat chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his head.

Khushi shook her head and reached for Arnav's phone. Arnav handed it over to her and going to the messaging app, Khushi texted Virat. His phone immediately beeped and he looked at it.

You never could if you tried.

Arnav looked over Virat's shoulder and laughed. "Oh, burn!"

Virat frowned. "Yes I could, Khushi. I just don't see what the whole deal is with their outfits, like they're both nice colors, I mean I love green, that's my favorite color. "

Wha-? Seriously? Now I can't even blame Avantika for calling him clueless. Khushi rolled her eyes and texted him once more.

It's not about the colors dude! It's the fact that she tried to throw shade at Avantika and make her look bad in front of all of us.

"Okay, but we wouldn't have thought that, obviously. I doubt Arnav would've, nor Anjali, or even you, and I know I wouldn't have."

Khushi let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head, as if to say never mind. Virat looked at her in confusion and then at Arnav, but Arnav simply shrugged and took back his phone, which Khushi was holding out to him.

"What-?"

"Don't even bother bro."

"But-"

"Don't."

Virat opened his mouth to speak, but shut it immediately. He thought for a moment, and then opened his mouth again. "Never mind, I need a drink now, and maybe might even get one of those pep talks from Nani that Avantika mentioned," and Virat walked away.

Arnav and Khushi watched as he disappeared into the crowd and then Arnav turned to her.

"Can I interest you to another dance?"

Arnav held his hand out and Khushi looked at it. With a nod, Khushi placed her hand in his and followed him back out to the dance floor.

For a moment, things would be peaceful, that is, until they got back home. Khushi knew for a fact she would definitely be hearing about the whole exchange with Sana all night long from Avantika, therefore meaning that Khushi would be sleeping over in Avantika's room tonight. But that was okay, she would support her girl. For the time being, all Khushi would focus on was the fact that the man she loved, loved her back, and all was well.

At least, for now.