In July, Khushi received a letter, asking her if she wanted to study abroad for the year. Khushi wasn't so sure about it, but she wanted to do it. She wanted some experience, but she didn't know how her parents would feel about it.
So she brought it up at dinner. But there was just one problem: her Nana and Nani had come over.
Should I ask, Khushi ask herself as she messed around with her food.
She looked at everyone, her dad and Nana in conversation, her mom and Nani talking as well.
Taking a deep breath, she said "I want to study abroad."
Four pairs of eyes looked at her, silence shrouding around them.
"What," her father said, breaking the silence.
"I got a letter from the college, asking me if I wanted to study abroad, since I'm an accelerated student."
"When did you receive it," Kinjal asked.
"Today."
"And where do they take you?"
"My options are London, New York, Tokyo... and I think Boston?"
"Hmm..."
"Well," Karan said, "what do you want?"
"To go to New York for the year," Khshi whispered.
Everyone looked at each other and then at her.
"Well," Karan said, "I like the idea. Gives you experience and a challenge. I'm fine with it."
Khushi beamed.
"So am I," Kinjal said. "I'm okay with it."
Kinjal's father gaped at her. "Are you kidding me," he boomed. "She's a young woman! What will she do going there-"
"Babuji, she will go," Kinjal said, not even looking at him.
"What?!"
Kinjal stood and looked at him. "She. Will. Go." She looked at Khushi. "To New York it is then. I'll fill out your app."
Khushi got up and launched herself at Kinjal. She hugged her mother tightly and then went to her dad and kissed the top of his head, hugging him, and then she went back to Kinjal.
"You're making a mistake," Kinjal's father said.
Karan gaped at him while Kinjal was heating up. Khushi could tell her mom was about to burst, so she squeezed her hand.
Kinjal calmed down and looked at her father. "We're her parents - we'll make decisions for her," and with that, Khushi and Kinjal left.
Kinjal's father gaped and fumed, while Karan just placed a spoon of kheer in his mouth, glad that the man had shut up.
Kinjal had filled out Khushi's application and Karan signed parts for him. Khushi sent it out and was excited. A few weeks later, she got her acceptance letter and ticket.
Khushi was excited and started to pack. In the middle of packing, she realized something - that she hadn't told Lavanya nor Arnav about this. She looked at her phone and quickly texted Lavanya and Arnav.
Lavanya replied immediately, happy for her, and told her places to visit in New York. On the other hand, Arnav still hadnt replied.
On the day Khushi was going to leave, she wondered why Arnav still hadn't contacted her. Lavanya had sent her best wishes, but Arnav hadn't done a thing.
As Khushi prepared to leave, she got a call. It was Arnav, and Khushi was shocked. They never called each other. She took the call anyways, wanting to hear his voice one last time before leaving.
"Hello," she said softly.
"What the hell!"
Khushi blanched. That sure wasn't something se was expecting to hear.
"Khushi, are you crazy?!"
"Arnav-"
"Why the hell do you want to go to New York? Isn't this place good for you?"
"Arnav, it's just for the year."
"The year?! Are you kidding me?!"
"Arnav-"
"No Khushi, this is wrong."
"But-"
"How could you think of ditching us? Ditching me?"
Khushi's heart ached. I don't want to leave you, she said in her head. I love you.
"Whatever," Arnav said exasperated. "Do what you want, I don't care."
"Arnav-"
"Just go!"
Khushi blanched again. "Arnu-"
"No! Don't call me that! You have no right to call me that Kush!"
Khushi had a lone tear flow down her cheek. "I-"
"Just go Khushi! Just go! Since you don't even care about your friends and just care about yourself."
Another tear flowed down.
"Hope you have fun in New York with those New York guys," he said sarcastically, and hung up.
Khushi looked at her phone and she cried. She cried so much, she had stuffed a pillow in her face. After a while, she calmed down and washed up.
"Khushi," Kinjal called as she came in her room "time to go baby."
"C-coming!"
Khushi came out and Kinjal held her face.
"What's wrong baby?"
Khushi shook her head.
"Are you going to lie to your mother right before you leave?"
Khushi shook her head and hugged her, shaking as she held back her sobs.
"Oh sweetheart, what is it?"
Khushi took a deep breath. "I'll miss you. I'll miss everyone."
Kinjal looked at her. "It's okay baby." Her eyes swelled up as well. "I'll miss you too baby."
Khushi nodded and hugged her again, crying into her mother's neck.
Soon it was time to leave and Khushi and her parents went to the airport. After some more crying Khushi left to her flight. As she sat in the plane, all her thoughts were of Arnav. Nonstop, all she thought of was him.
The pilot announced that they were going to be delayed by 10 minutes. Khushi took this chance and decided to call Arnav. Arnav didn't pick up and Khushi tried again. He still didn't pick up and when she tried a third time, he still didn't pick up, so Khushi left a message.
"Hi, Arnav," she said softly. "Um... I just wanted to hear your voice, right before my flight took off. Um, I'll miss you. I really will. And... and I'm sorry, if I hurt you. I didn't mean to Arnu. But I really want this. I know I should've called you before I made my decision, but I didn't, and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry Arnu. Please forgive me, or I'll feel miserable. ... I'll miss you lot. ... Bye," and she hung up.
The plane was about to take off and Khushi turned off her phone. Just as she was about to, her phone vibrated and she received a text.
Arnu: Im sorry too. Be careful Kush. Gonna miss you yaar. I'll be thinking of you.
Khushi's heart melted and she texted back:
I'm sorry as well. I'll miss u too. I'll think of u <3
Turning off her phone, she shut her eyes and relaxed. Arnav would think of her, and that let her heart relax, and her flight went by well.
*~*
New York was amazing for Khushi. She made new friends and her classes were awesome and she just loved it. Now and then she would go on Oovoo and chat with Lavanya. With Arnav, they would e-mail or IM each other.
While spending her time here, some guys started to flirt with her, but Khushi had no interest. The entire time she was there, all she thought of was Arnav. Being halfway around the world, her heart longed for Arnav. She wanted to see his face oh so badly.
So, to solve this problem, Khushi had made her background a picture of her and Arnav on her iPhone. They had taken it the year before and it was one of her favorite pictures ever. The two were hugging each other from the side and Khushi was taking the picture.
The year was about to end, and Khushi couldn't wait to go back. She was missing her parents (even though they spoke everyday), Lavanya, and especially, her Arnu.
On her last day there, Khushi had spent the day with her friends and later that night, Khushi put the pictures on Facebook. She just couldn't wait to get home, all excited on her status.
*~*
Khushi had a wonderful flight and soon, she had arrived to her home country. Stepping off the plane, she took a deep breath and sighed.
She was home.
Getting off, she went through immigration and then got her bags. She told her parents not to come, and that she would see them when she got there.
She walked out with her bags on a cart and saw the whole bunch of people, waiting for their loved ones. A man behind her chuckled and ran up to a woman and held her waist and swung her in the air. At the sight of it, Khushi couldn't help but to smile. She absolutely loved romantic things and that was really cute.
Shaking her head, she started to walk again and headed towards the door.
"Khushi!"
Khushi stilled and froze. She knew that voice very well. It was the voice she loved to hear. It was the voice that she needed to hear. It was the voice that she longed to hear. It was the voice that melted her heart.
Turning around slowly, with her mouth parted slightly with eyes wide, she gaped at none other than the one she longed - Arnav Singh Raizada.
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