#ipkknd+ff

[myfanficfrenzy]

Arshi FF: Best Laid Plans

Author: AnamikaGK

Status: Completed and Available for Purchase on Amazon

Genre: Angst, Romance, Drama

"Keep Reading" to read my two cents on the fic. Major spoilers ahead!

My Two Cents:

Romeo - Juliet meet Arnav - Khushi and learn how it's done in this epic saga of Mafia Romance written with a pen that always gives me the warm fuzzies each time I read it! Seriously, this is one of my comfort reads! <3 <3 <3

Arnav Singh Raizada as a powerful Mafia Lord? Yes please!

Arnav Singh Raizada who is able to break someone's wrist, (without breaking a sweat, might I add) just because they tried to touch Khushi inappropriately? Please and Thanks!

Khushi Ranjan Vaghela returning home for good after three years equals Arnav Singh Raizada pursuing her, relentlessly, much to her consternation. Because Khushi is nothing, if not non-confrontational!

Khushi's devoted brother Akash and Arnav's rivalry aside, Khushi has no delusions to why Arnav is bad news for her. Her father has left behind a legacy of revenge, animosity, and bloodshed. And Khushi has no intentions to add to that list. Or be the reason for either of their deaths.

However, if there is one thing Khushi cannot convince Arnav of, is that she doesn't love him anymore. And since she is the only thing Arnav Singh Raizada has to live for, (after achieving his life goal of avenging his mother that is), Arnav has no intentions of giving her up!

The story-telling is superb, the plot-twists are engaging and the fic/book keeps you hooked to the very end to tell a story of childhood sweethearts who have had it rough. This possessive, brutal, but all heart -when it comes to Khushi- Arnav hooked me in and didn't let go until I read and re-read this story over and over again! Khushi for all her faults, is someone you cannot help but cry for. And yet, her bravery and resilience will leave you in awe!

-A

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

IPKKND SS: Fall Out of Love

Chapter 1

When days got tough, and nights tougher, Khushi shivered on the poolside floor wondering what did she do wrong. In her religion, everything was a repercussion for a deed done.

The man she loved grew stranger everyday. At one point his anger was in his words, now they lived as impressions on her arms.

God, wouldn't she give her whole life if she got a day to see the softness she had seen when he had danced his way straight into his heart.

At this point she wondered if that ever happened, or if it was product of her crazy mind. Maybe Arnav had never loved her, maybe it was all a result of her obsession with him.

Her sister had been right, Khushi had been fixated far into Arnav, ever since the day she saw him. Even when he wanted nothing to do with her.

At first it was anger, then disrespect, then curiosity, then infatuation and finally...

A cold had settled into Delhi, the winds chilled her bones. Her thin salwar was no match. She could not find herself to take the blanket on the floor.

This time, it was not self preservation. It was insects.

If she tried to get it washed, questions would be raised. The househelp was familiar with the bedroom linen. Why would it be in the garden long enough to get infested? Mami had been suspicious, and Khushi could not bear Arnav directing another play of them being happily married.

She could never see the difference between his acting and reality.

-

The blanket was washed, dried, and neatly packed. The floor was cleared, and an outdoor bedroll was in the corner of the garden.

Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks as she smelled the fresh blanket. Her body cried in relief as she laid down in the mattress.

It was the first time she slept for more than three hours in a month.

-

"Slept well?" Khushi was caught off guard. Not by the question, but the person asking it.

Shyam Manohar Jha.

Khushi ran away, her mind coming to a conclusion it didn't want to.

She bumped into Arnav, anger blazing in his eyes.

Her question of the blanket being washed remain in thin air as Manorama commented on their proximity as lovebirds being unable to separate, not noticing the soft bruise that began to swell in her arms once he left her grip.

In another time, she would've thought she saw true concern in Arnav's eyes over the mention of insects.

But for now, her mind worried over other details.

Over who got her bedding clean and washed.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

A/N: Thoughts? XOXO (Please ignore any typos/grammar errors)

Read future chapters on AO3

tagging: @shaonsim @zaphbeeblebrox @shiyaravi @chutkiandchotte @featheredclover @goals1024 @honeybellexox @darkchocolatestuff @thedupattaknowswhatsup @bigfatreader @lostafpanda @exosexosekai @hi-this-is-permabanned @scorpio-smiles @noor1025 @minpdnim @laad-governess @barshifan @whateverworks21 @maansiloves @samuraisamsworld @dropsofserenity @myloveforstuff @leila1 @onadaanparindey @dimaagkadahi @ijustchangedmyname @australian-desi @muttonthings @aye-masakalii @phuljari @msbhagirathi @rae-blogging (updating this list - lemme know who wants to be added/deleted)

[featheredclover]

Favourite IPKKND noncanon fanfics # 21

(1) False Impressions by Gargee & Bingala

(incomplete as of now, but worth reading)

(2) Salve by Anupama

An officer bogged down by his rough origins meets an unlikely accomplice

(3) The photographer by InvisibleSmile

(4) What's cooking by RTlicious

A culinary streak of the arshi magic! The author's expertise in cooking shines through each chapter~

(5) Red lighting by RTlicious

A cop and a prostitute meet for the night, but is there more to it than meets the eye?

(6) Maid in love! by RTlicious

A tale of pretence, tactics and love

(7) Bodyguard by RTlicious

The grey eyed stiff bodyguard must be distracted , and who better than KKG?

(8) Rogue agents by RTlicious

Parting ways are bittersweet, but rarely do they end up in a romp

(9) When I met you! by RTlicious

What happens when a series of confusion leads to an explosive love story?

(10) The learning curve by RTlicious

A parent teacher meeting turns into a ruckus, paving way for an endearing love story

❤️#20 of non canon ff❤️

[laadgovernorandsankadevi]

Hi, hope you are doing well. I love your fanfictions and your take on the show....I know alot of people ask you this... but will you ever update footprint in the sand... I miss that story. Thanks

Hello,

I am doing alright. I will be updating Footprints on Sand soon. I do struggle with chronic disorders, and I have a pretty busy life as well. I also got COVID over the summer and recovering been quite rough.

Keeping myself alive, and reminding myself that I have free will is more of a priority than engaging with fandom spaces.

I absolutely miss doing the analysis posts and writing fanfics. I hope I am able to find myself back sooner than later. I'll be thankful to anyone who sticks around whenever the next update happens, however like I've stated multiple times before, I came back to IPKKND for myself and I started writing fics and doing episode analyses for myself.

I hope that's respected by the numerous messages and comments I've received. I promised to finish FOS and stick with that, but I cannot give you a specific timeline or updated schedule.

Thank you for checking in!

-LG&SD

[onadaanparindey]

drop in some cool arshi fic recs besties I’m lost 😩

[phati-sari]

Hi! Okay this is a long shot and idk if you even know anything about this lol, but I’m just going to shoot my shot. Okay so I watched IPKKND ages ago and recently discovered that it’s on Hulu so obvs I had to rewatch. Anyways watching it is making me want to reread all the old ffs I liked! Unfortunately, most of them were deleted from IF 😢, but one of my favs was Kushi from Maya Hill. I know she moved to her own website and I even read it earlier this year! I wanted to do ANOTHER reread but I can’t access the website anymore! It apparently doesn’t exist. The fic is still on IF but it’s stops at ch 81 but if memory serves it actually goes to like ch 118 or something. Do you know anything about the website issue?? I can’t find another way to contact Maya. If she took her work off I’m going to be DISTRAUGHT!!!!!!

I have no idea!

[ridzmystique]

The euphoria I just experienced in the past 30 seconds! I saw your post for BTS songs for IPKKND! I WAS NOT READY FOR TWO OF MY BIGGEST OBSESSIONS TO COLLIDE LIKE THAT TODAY! And then I realised you are also the author of some of my fav ipkknd FF??!?!!??!

Hahaha. First of all, thank you for reading and liking my work. And yes, 2021 was finally the year I fell down the K-pop rabbit hole. I'm no longer actively in the IPK fandom but I do enjoy the occasional dips and that question was a nice little combo of two things I enjoy.

[dimaagkadahi]

I wrote a thing after an eternity. Anyway, here’s an Ode to Khushi, courtesy of one Arnav Singh Raizada

——————————

She comes to my home like the monsoon wind

With the hope and life it brings

She passes by like a thunderstorm

To wash away my sins

She comes to my home like a starry night

That brightens up the sky

But no nightly lights can compare

To the twinkle in her eye

She comes to my home like fairy bells

A symphony in art

The magic of her tinkling laugh

Heals my wretched heart

She comes to my home like a calming balm

All suffering she seeks to ease

She graces us with her smiles and warmth

And brings peace to my house of peace

She comes to my home like a trusted friend,

Who knows me, not my disguise

Hand in hand and eye to eye

We set out to conquer the skies

~ fin ~

[thatcollateraldamage]

this whole fuckinh sequence i swear takes me out every single time

ipkknd fanfic titled waves and particles written by rockbarbie on india forums.

[rabba-ve]

Tu Safar Mera — COMPLETE!

Our fic is finally complete! Read the final chapter here on Wattpad!

To read form the start go here <3 <3 <3

[myfanficfrenzy]

What's this about?

Hello Tumblr!

Welcome to our space :)

This is a blog to catalogue the fanfictions that we have read, loved, analyzed, obsessed over and forgotten our RL for!

We hope to use this space to create a directory of Arnav-Khushi (Arshi) fanfictions with their links and summaries to come back to!

Yep, characters of a show that is more than ten years old, sue us!

Best,

A and I

P.S. Heavy Spoilers for FanFics Ahead. Tread with Caution!

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

ArShi OS: Kyun Farak Padta Hai

Khushi waited by the terrace with bated breath. The fairy lights, the reds, the stage, the beauty in the darkness - it all had one name to it.

Arnav Singh Raizada

But since when was Arnav so expressive? Khushi chuckled at the thought of Arnav, in his three piece suit, fixing the stage up. And that's when one niggling thought crossed her mind.

Could Arnav really do this?

But they hadn't even shared a word of what they shared in between them. But today he wanted to.

The door swung upon and Khushi closed her eyes tight, wringing the corner of her dupatta.

Arnav did not know what was more endearing - the fact that Khushi decorated the whole terrace by herself, perhaps knowing what he wanted to say, or that she was standing in the middle of her own decorations where her eyes closed.

Bilkul pagaal hai

"And I thought I was uncomfortable with my feelings but you amaze me Khushi Kumari Gupta. You can barely watch what you're doing?"

Khushi colored at the familiar snark, she was about to reply but his face was so soft, the smile so mischievous, that she found herself shy again.

"Dekhiye-" She said.

"Dikhaaye,-" Arnav quipped, taking two confident steps towards her.

"Suniye-"

"Sunaiye-" Arnav stood by the stage, him and Khushi eye level at this point. Khushi bit back a smile.

"Hum yeh kehna chahte hai that I am not uncomfortable with my feelings unlike someone who smiles as frequently as the blue moon's appearance. I don't hide anything at all." Khushi, proud of her speech, looked away.

Arnav laughed. So much for her directness that she couldn't even meet his eyes?

"Please Khushi, you know you're good at hiding truths." Khushi was caught aback. The words hit closer than expected. Arnav had never been more earnest in life.

And Khushi had never been aware of just how much she cared for this man until now. The truth of Shyam Manohar Jha, one that felt like acid in her heart, must be revealed to this family.

But it would come at the cost of her and Arnav's... what were they? It wasn't a relationship. She was scared to call it love. It was nameless yet potent.

God, couldn't she be selfish for once?

"What happened?" Arnav frowned, brushing his fingers against her bangs. His bravado was wavering. Khushi had no idea that his entire being was resting on her acceptance of him. It was silly that someone could mean so much that despite all accomplishment their yes could be the most validating moment.

Was it ok to surrender so much to someone in love?

Khushi's eyes fluttered shut as he continued to play with her hair.

Yes

"Khushi, I want to tell you something." He stepped up the stage and Khushi, for once, did not step back.

"But before that, I must admit, all of this is very pretty." Arnav pointed to the decoration. Khushi frowned, was Arnav Singh Raizada such a Laad Governor to praise his own decorations?

Arnav Singh Raizada was unbelievable!

"What? No, you did-" Arnav clarified and they both realized that neither decorated the place.

Then just who did?

Di?

"Di-" "-Anjali ji-"

Arnav and Khushi burst into chuckles. To think they were setup by the ever sweet Anjali Jha! Khushi laughed till her stomach hurt and she clutched his shoulder, resting her head to calm down.

Here they were, unable to tell three words, while the whole world had caught onto their poorly kept secret.

Arnav held Khushi in his arms, and after a moment as their laughter subsided, he wrapped her in a gentle, tentative hug. Khushi looked up, her own hands locked around him, her cheeks flushed from laughing.

"Khushi, mujhe farak padta hai." Arnav confessed.

"From your smiles to your tears, har cheez se farak padta hai." He continued.

"Because-"

"-me too." Khushi confessed.

"Hum aapse, hum aapke bina..." No word could justify the extent of her confession.

"I love you." Arnav said, wiping the slight tear of joy from the corner of her eyes. Khushi gave him the biggest smile and squeezed him tight in a hug.

With a force that nearly toppled him over.

-- -- --

"You didn't say it back-" Arnav whispered as they tried to make an invisible, dignified entrance towards the living room where the marriage proceedings had begun.

"Read my mind for a change," Khushi whispered back, slapping his hand away from her waist.

"What the-"

"Not now! Everyone's watching." Khushi shushed him.

"So?" Arnav grabbed her hand, pleased at the sight of his gifted bangles chiming.

"Arnav ji, we're in the middle of a wedding. Our families are here. It will take them one second to place us in the mandap and get us married as well." Khushi reasoned.

Arnav stopped on the stairs, and for once marriage didn't frighten him. Khushi kept muttering something on the side - which he didn't quite pick up on.

"Don't tell me you're ready?" Khushi asked, her eyes as round as saucers.

Arnav shrugged.

"Pinch me."

"Gladly," Arnav chuckled and pinched her waist. Khushi shrieked and all heads turned to her side. And, miraculously, when she glared at him - Arnav Singh Raizada was found ten feet away checking out the quality of curtains Shantivan had.

"Woh, woh, JIJI I AM SO HAPPY YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!" Khushi yelled and ran down the stairs, shooting him a quick wink before nearly toppling her sister off the mandap as well with a fierce hugs.

Anjali watched her brother gaze fondly at Khushi from on top of the stairs.

Finally!

-- -- --

A/N: Sometimes I like writing happy things. Image credit @phati-sari

tagging: @shaonsim @zaphbeeblebrox @shiyaravi @chutkiandchotte @featheredclover @goals1024 @honeybellexox @darkchocolatestuff  @charucoal @thedupattaknowswhatsup @bigfatreader @lostafpanda @exosexosekai @hi-this-is-permabanned @scorpio-smiles @noor1025 @minpdnim @laad-governess @barshifan @whateverworks21 @maansiloves @samuraisamsworld @dropsofserenity @myloveforstuff @leila1 @onadaanparindey @urwatueat @dimaagkadahi @ijustchangedmyname @australian-desi @muttonthings @eunoiabeyours @aye-masakalii  @phuljari @msbhagirathi (updating this list - lemme know who wants to be added/deleted)

[featheredclover]

Rangrasiya FF recs

Deviating from my usual ipkknd re-watch, I stumbled upon another spectacular work of Sanaya Irani and Ashish Sharma- 'Rangrasiya' . And of course, the fanfictions I found did the chemistry between the leads absolute justice! I think the Paro - Rudra universe will be enjoyed by my fellow ipkknd readers! So give it a try and let me know ❤️!!

(1) Major Saab's kiss by Sonia/ desisoapie

(2) Kaleidoscope by Sonia / desisoapie

(3) Labyrinth of love by Sonia / desisoapie

(4) The accidental romance by likitha

(5) Of understandings by chotidesi

(6) Blindfolded by chotidesi

(7) Peccatum: seven deadly sins by chotidesi

(8) Veritas: Paro by chotidesi

Veritas:Rudra by chotidesi

(9) Combust by chotidesi

(10) Mirrors by chotidesi

[laadgovernorandsankadevi]

OS: Khanak

can also be read here as well: wordpress

What once was, was no longer a secret. Arnav Singh Raizada’s eyes were reserved for his wife, and there wasn’t anything that would ever be distracting enough for him to not notice what was his Khushi thinking.

This fateful evening, the two were getting ready to attend a dinner thrown by one of the investors of AR. When he had first asked Khushi to start accompanying him to dinners, he had been skeptical of her fitting in with the snooty society that valued brands, and summers abroad over local cuisine and monsoon, but much to his surprise, Khushi was a favorite amongst the wives of the men he associated it for her animated responses to their absurd stories.

He was stuffing the neck scarf when Khushi finally stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a bright orange silk sari with sequins bordering the length of it. Her hair was partially dry with a towel wrapped at the ends with the overgrown bangs framing her face. His eyes automatically shifted to observe her movements while continuing to adjust his own clothes.

She moved frantically towards the vanity table he had been standing in front of to pull out blush and kajal. He was always surprised by how little make-up her skin required after moisturizing. How did she never get pimples? She carelessly threw the pink pigment on her cheeks while the towel hung over her shoulder.

Her eyes met his in the mirror, and she stood still for a moment. “Humein zada waqt nahi lage ga! pakka!” [I won’t take too long! Promise!]

Her hands moved towards the small brass holder with kajal, one that she pulled out the stick of with startling ease and slid in between her waterline and lid. He stepped back giving her more space and picked up his cologne before observing the flush on her face. She reached for a colored pencil to underline her eyes with before using the leftover blush on the brush to brush over her eyelids and using the liner to accentuate them further.

Her eyes now appeared more bright than before. He had fallen for her eyes, and every single time he looked at them, he couldn’t figure out whether he had adored them as much as they deserved to be.

She rushed to throw the towel off her hair and threw it over the bed. He let out a sigh and picked it up to place on the back of the recliner. Was it her, or did girls barely care where they threw things in haste to get ready? His eyes had moved away from her face for a second, and he missed the moment she put the jhumke on.

Her hand hovered about the vanity table for something else. What else did she need, he wondered. She looked perfect as is. But he was wrong. She bent slightly to open the drawer for something. He peeked in to see what it could be. He was pleasantly surprised.

She pulled out bangles. Yellow and orange, glass bangles that jingled the moment she placed the box on the table. Was it the one he thought it was? Her fingers ran through her hair to set them behind her before slowly moving to displace the bangles from the box to their rightful place but what she was unaware of, was that her husband had been standing back observing every single movement.

“Ruko.” [wait] he said, and her hands halted midair with a surprise.

“Kya hua?” [What happened?] she asked, confused

“May I?” His hands stretched out towards her while the other covered the box before them. She smiled, and her eyes twinkled.

His fingers slipped inside the box, and slowly took out a couple before moving towards her hand. Her fingers, ever so delicate rested in between his. Ever so gently, he slipped the glass bangles onto her wrist, listening to their khanak as they fell over one another.

“Yeh wohi hain na?” [they are those ones, aren’t they?] He asked.

“Aap ko yaad hai?” [You remember?]

“Kaise bhool sakta hoon.” [How can I forget] 

He continued slipping them in, letting the jingling echo in between them while meeting her eyes. The small smile refused to leave their faces. It felt like yesterday when he had found himself lurking around her to get a glimpse of whether she had accept his gift.

He had wanted then, when she had been asked to remove to dupatta from her hands; and now just as he slipped the last of the set onto her wrist for time to suspend itself with nothing but the echos of her bangles to ring in between. He stared at her adorned hands, and pulled them to his lips to kiss her wrists and fingers.

“You look beautiful!”

“kyun ke hum ne aap ki pasand ki chudiyaan pehni hain?” [because I am wearing your choice of bangles?] she teased.

He shook his head but then pulled her hand towards him. The bangles crashed against one another, and her eyes looked into his’ from merely an inch away. “Tumhe kya lagta hai?” [what do you think?] He asked.

She didn’t reply, but he saw the twinkle in her eyes. She broke away from his pull without answering, to fill her part, fix her hair, and spray the perfume he had gotten for her all while his eyes remained transfixed on her.

“Chalein?” she said once done. He nodded and walked over to pick up his phone while she picked up the small potli to slip onto her wrist.

The remainder of the night was engaging but not enough for Arnav Singh Raizada’s ears to not perk up at every jingling of his wife’s anklets and bangles. His eyes would momentarily lose sight of her every now and then, but her ornaments did their best to beckon him towards her.

If his eyes looked for hers at any given instance, then his ears listened for twinkling sounds that wrapped around all of her presence.

[onadaanparindey]

queen was aware she got the BEST VIEW.

[phati-sari]

Arshi FF: Tere Bin - Chapter 8

Read from the beginning | Chapter 7

Chapter 8: Ranjha (listen while reading)

Khushi

“What was he doing here?”

Khushi answered without turning, her head resting on the window sill as she studied the moon. “I don’t know.”

It’d taken a long time to escape to the room she shared with her sister after they’d first stepped through the doors. First, Amma had asked about the hospital visit, making Khushi recite everything the Doctor Sahib had said while Bua-ji interrupted often to ask questions. Babu-ji had soon taken over, asking to see the paperwork Khushi had collected and asking a few questions of his own. Still full from the gol gappe, Khushi had nibbled on some puri under Jiji’s watchful gaze while the family considered the payment plan the clinic had laid out.

Luckily, no one had asked exactly how she’d gotten home.

“You were in his car, Khushi.” Jiji came to stand next to her, her tone coloured with disapproval.

“The auto broke down. He was driving past.”

“He, of all the people in Lucknow and Delhi, just happened to be driving by? At the exact moment your auto broke down?”

An odd defensiveness flared in her chest, words popping out of her mouth before she’d thought them through.

“What can I say, Jiji? My phone’s battery was dead, it was dark. He offered to drop me home.”

Jiji reached out to touch her shoulder. “Did he fight with you again?”

No, he bought me gol gappe.

“No more than usual,” Khushi tried to smile at her sister. “I’m fine. Really. He drove me home. That’s all.”

Though she looked unconvinced, Jiji stepped away with a nod to ready herself for bed. Khushi waited until she was alone to snatch her bag from where it hung on a hook. Her searching fingers found the business card he’d offered.

“Well, it’s just that you like arguing so much, and we argue so often … I think we should keep in touch.”

At the time, she’d been so startled that she’d simply taken the card and slid from the car without answering. Jiji, fortunately, had been too busy scowling at him through the windows to notice as she’d slipped it into her bag.

The card was thick, the surface almost velvety to the touch. It sported a bright red logo in the top corner and announced his name in crisp black letters — ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA. Khushi shook her head to clear the unbidden memory of correcting his name on hundreds of letters.

The writing on the card included a number she recognised for the reception desk at the head offices and an email address that his managers monitored. But he’d scrawled another number untidily along one side with a black pen.

His personal number, Khushi realised with a jolt.

It felt strangely intimate, though logic reminded her that she’d had the same number saved in her phone before he’d broken it on the storeroom floor.

Why is he still in Lucknow?

On the heels of this thought came another: Why should I care?!

Her mind was suddenly awhirl with memories — raised voices and shouted words, a fall from his window, the broken door to the storeroom. His airs about money and power. The terror of the guesthouse.

Khushi ripped the business card in half, her breath coming in rapid pants, and then tore it into even smaller pieces. Tears stung in her eyes. She scrunched the pieces into her palm as Jiji returned to the room.

“Make sure you wake up early tomorrow,” her sister draped her towel near the window. “We’re going to the temple.”

“Okay.”

Waiting until Jiji was occupied with something in the cupboard, Khushi returned the ruined card to her bag. In the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and washed her face before studying her reflection. Her pulse was a chaotic drumbeat in her body, her thoughts a wild tangle. And underneath it all was something that thrilled and scared her at the same time, something that had followed her to Lucknow.

                                    #####

“Everything leads back to him,” Jiji had groaned, rolling on her side on the bed they shared. “Just go to sleep quietly.”

It had been a week since they’d returned to Lucknow, and Khushi had been comparing the price of potatoes between Lucknow and Delhi. Or at least, that was how the conversation had started. She couldn’t remember how they’d gotten to talking about that Laad Governor.

“You’re right Jiji. We’re in Lucknow now and we’ll soon forget that we ever went to Delhi. Or that we met such cruel, haughty people. Although … Anjali-ji had such sweetness in her. It’s a shame that we had to leave without saying goodbye to her. At least we met one nice person in Delhi. Oh … and Nani-ji. Maybe two nice people. And Aakash-ji, I suppose, though —”

“— Khushi! Are you going to count out every member of his family? Your mind is like a compass that’s always stuck on him!”

“And why wouldn’t it be?” Khushi had asked hotly. “He sent me there to do some meaningless task, knowing the place was about to collapse.”

“I know. You’ll never have to see him again, Khushi. You resigned from that awful job, you gave him an earful, and now you’re here and he’s there.”

The words should have elated her, but they only left her feeling strangely hollow.

                                    #####

That hollowness sat heavily inside her as Khushi joined her sister in their bed a few minutes later, sliding between the covers with a sigh.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jiji’s voice was soft in the dimness.

“Yes.”

“You barely ate dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.”

A short silence, in which Khushi’s mind unhelpfully replayed the way she’d fallen into his arms yet again.

Oh Devi Maiyya, couldn’t you find another place to make me slip? You mustn’t have liked the offering I left you this morning.

“I’m glad we came back to Babu-ji,” Jiji said softly. “I can’t imagine being away from home at a time like this.”

“The doctors said that as long as he rests properly and takes his medicines, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“He isn’t resting nearly enough, even with both of us at the shop.”

Khushi nodded her agreement, “He’s worried about the bills.”

“Bua-ji and Amma are talking about selling some jewellery. I thought I’d give them my bangles.”

“I have bangles we can sell too.”

It took a while for Jiji’s breathing to fall into the deep, slow rhythm of sleep. Khushi lay awake, her thoughts chasing each other in ever-tightening spirals.

The night of the photoshoot. The softness of her pallu as it slipped. The scorch of his gaze as it roved over her body and left her feeling singed. The electricity between them on Teej, every touch a bolt of lightning. The weight of him pressing into her in the storeroom.

She flushed, skin prickling and warmth blooming in secret places.

Stop it, Khushi. A handful of gol gappe is all it takes for you to forget his cruelty?

She turned onto her side with a huff. Sometimes it felt as though her life had been split into Before and After, as though falling at the fashion show had created an entirely new Khushi Kumari Gupta. A Khushi who was strangely compelled towards him, a Khushi who’d come dangerously close to swooning in his arms today. A Khushi who wanted something she had no name for.

“I didn’t know the situation at the guesthouse was that bad!”

“Do you really think I would’ve sent you there if I’d known? Is that what you think of me?”

For the first time, she allowed herself to entertain the idea that he hadn’t sent her there on purpose.

So what if he hadn’t? I was still trapped there for an entire day. He was wrong.

But the thought was impossible to dislodge now that it’d wormed into her mind. Having assumed he’d wanted to argue every time he’d approached her, she now considered whether he might have been trying to explain. She saw their interactions in a new light. The sweets, the cheque.

Did he feel guilty? Was he trying to say sorry?

She eventually fell into an uneasy sleep, tormented in her dreams by his eyes, his voice, the memory of his touch. She woke just before dawn, breathless and damp with sweat, the sheets tangled with her legs. Flinging them off, Khushi sat up in bed. Her sister made a questioning noise.

“Sleep, Jiji. It’s not time to wake up yet.”

A nameless storm raged in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She squeezed her eyes shut.

I should hate him.

A lurch in her tummy.

But I don’t.

Padding slowly over to her bag, she fished out the pieces of the business card one by one. There was a roll of tape amongst the paper and pens scattered on the table in the corner. Khushi glanced back at her sister as she sat. It took a few minutes to line up the jagged edges, to press the tape along them with trembling fingers until she could read his name again.

He’d set down a challenge. She wouldn’t back down.

    ********

Thanks for reading :) I know some of you may be disappointed with the level of introspection in this chapter and where I chose to end it. Tere Bin is Arnav’s story, one where he has to work out what he wants and how to get it while Khushi is in Lucknow. While I intend to dip into Khushi’s point of view where the story demands it (and I feel that her presence greatly improved Chapters 6 and 7), it will focus heavily on Arnav. I am not intentionally writing something to annoy or disappoint readers. I’m trying to do something very specific with this story, and like all experiments, I’m learning as I go :)