OS {Happy Diwali}

OS: HAPPY DIWALI

Tonight is the special Diwali night in the neighbourhood as the Raizada house decorated as a bride welcomed its guests for the Diwali Party.

Arnav stood a few distance away from the entrance watching all the guests dressed up elegantly for the function. But there was one special person for whom he waited specially.

He frowned irritated as he waited for her. He had asked her to come earlier for the party lest he would be dam bored all alone and She. She was late as usual.

Suddenly his breadth hitched as he saw his thoughts taking same. His special guest, his best friend forever was finally here.

Khushi Kumari Gupta.

She was her best friend. Arnav and Khushi had been school partners, college partners, dance partners and so were they crime partners too, their family being close friends added it up for them.

Now Arnav joined his father's business empire while Khushi joined her father's. They were now business partners. They always ended up being partners for each other in whatever they did.

They always fighted and argued but at the end of the day they were always together. Best Friends which they were.

Arnav had never thought of anything more for Khushi. He dated many girls but Khushi never did and that always relieved him. He didn't know why.

But today Arnav felt different. As if this Diwali wasn't the same like any other Diwali night. They celebrated Diwali every year together.

But today, for Arnav the fairy lights seemed to glow brighter, the Diya's warmth reached his hearted and he didn't for once hear any bursting of crackers.

Arnav stared mesmerised at Khushi. For the first had he seen Khushi dressed up in a saree and that too in his favourite colour.

RED.

Her hairs left open. For the first time he noticed how long they were and he craved to run his hands through them. He eyes seemed to glow as she took the blessings of his parents and hugged his sister. She was too lively and did mingle with his family very well. His family had always supported her even if it was her mistake and not his, earning him a scolding. But soon she would come to him and say sorry pouting which always did melt his heart.

A small smiled adored his face as the memories spent flashed through his brains.

He saw her smiling and waving back at him, coming toward him in a hugged. Her smile seemed an extra bright and charming today. He hadn't noticed when his hand had automatically, out of instinct had waved her back. And had been doing until she had reached him and had surprisingly stared at him, amused and this had brought her back to reality.

He wished her an HAPPY DIWALI and so did she followed by a bear hug form her. He did hug her back. But this mere hug had managed to excite him as nervousness went down his spine. This was not the first time they had hugged but then what had happened all of a sudden that it all seemed so different. He became stiff and excused himself as he hurried into his room, locking it.

***

Khushi stood in the middle of the hallway as Arnav left her and went by. It was he who was so insistent upon her coming earlier and she had too agreed. Now that she had come he left her and went by.

She couldn't help but feel a little hurt. He always thought her as his best friend but she couldn't help feeling for him even then.

She sighed as she thought that she had fallen in Love with her best friend, Arnav, knowing very well that he didn't love her nor would her ever. He had never ever felt anything of her. His touch was friendly and pure but she could not help but feel butterflies flying in her stomach with his mere touch. Forget touch his close proximity seemed to make her forget to even breath. Come on Forget Proximity, him being with her made her heart speed up and start beating louder and faster, increasing her acidity.

She turned as Arnav's sister had called her, asking her to light the diya's in the poolside which she had seemed to have forgotten.

Khushi made his way to the poolside. The pool side was attached to Arnav's room. They had spent special moments at this place. She couldn't help but feel that maybe her tormented heart would finally get bliss on this very Diwali night.

Khushi jumped as she heard the blasting of a cracker nearby, behind the wall. She smiled at her silliness and patted her own heard. She looked up at the sky and her face lit up as she saw the sky lighting up with colour lights of the crackers.

She loved Diwali. It was on this Diwali night that she had first met Arnav. First fought with him. First time became friends on this Diwali night. At was last year Diwali night that she had realised her feelings for her best friend.

She had made sure that she never let her feelings down in front of him. She never wanted to loose his friendship. She would not be able to live without him. But it hurt when you see your love with someone else. It hurt when you have to hide you feeling from him and smile back as if nothing had happened and force a smile at him.

She sighed as the memories of last Diwali flashed before her. She smiled and she started lighting Diyas.

***

Arnav stared at his Best friend, may be the status had changed a little more to that now with a faraway look. He smiled at his thoughts.

After being in the confines of his room, Arnav had realised what Khushi meant to him. But he couldn't help but feel a little nervous as what would Khushi think when she would come to know about his feelings for her.

No. He would never let his feelings break their friendship. And for it, he was ready to wait. Wait if needed his whole life for her.

He saw various emotions flooding from her face.

From disappointment to hurt. To hurt to love. To love to confusion to determination. And then a content smile as she lit the diya and blew the matchsticks as they ended.

He smiled at her antics. She was everything that he need in his life. But he would have to keep his feeling in check around her. For their friendship.

***

Little did they both know that they both had feelings for each other. If only they could read each others mind and know it all but this not possible.

Khushi was lighting a diya when suddenly he looked up to see Arnav staring at her. For the first time, she saw the depth in his eyes as he stared at her. She gulped as her heartbeats raced forgetting the world around them, they stared at each other, lost in another world.

Suddenly Arnav sprang up as he threw the matchstick she was holding to the ground and screamed at her.

"Khushi! Be care full dammit! What if you would have burnt yourself. Can't you see the matchstick ending."

"Oh! Arnav...I'm really sorry you know. I hadn't just seen. But it's all your fault"

" What have I Done?"

"Because you were staring at me!"

"Oh. Is it? Can't I? I don't think I would have to pay a tax to stare you. Do I?"

"No! But.., You just..You know..I was just kind of.."

"Lost"

"No!"

"Why?"

"Should I be Arnav?"

"Tables turned! Is it Khushi!"

"Don't change the topic Arnav. And Don't. Stare. At Me. Like that?"

"Why?"

"I feel a little uneasy!"

"Why?"

"what why Arnav? And why were you staring at me"

"I just wanted to talk to you! And don't look at me as if I did a crime at just staring at my love!"

"What?''

"Oh! I mean you know! You are my best friend."

"You sure. Just that?"

"Yup! Why you thought something more"

"Yup! Foolish of me to think that way"

"And what were you thinking?"

"And why should I say that to you?''

"And why won't you Khushi?"

"Because..I just can't? Now stop it all here. You have gone crazy."

"It's not me. its you!"

"Oh Ya! That's why you left me stranded downstairs after you asked me to come soon to the party. Maybe you just remembered to call you girl friend then?"

"Girl Friend? Who Girl friend?"

"Sheetal! She said me! Don't lie to me now?"

"Hey! Khushi! Don't cry. You know I can't see you cry ever."

"No! You go to that Sheetal''

"Sheetal is not my girl friend Khushi. I don't know why she is doing it all. Trust me Khushi!"

" Promise!"

"Promise Khushi! And now smile!''

"You are the best! I really really am so happy now!"

"Was some one Jealous?"

"Who jealous?"

"Don't act so innocent Khushi! You were!"

"No I wasn't."

"Okaaay! You sure?"

"yeh!"

"100%?" Saying so he leaned in closer and closer each passing second. Was she really Jealous? Yes! She was. But she would never confess that to him. Ever.

She was about to deny once again when she felt his soft lips on hers. Shivers ran down his spine.

He was Kissing her?

This was what which ran through their brains. They knew they should stop before thing got complicated but neither of them seemed to break first. But live this moment and Cherish this Diwali.

Their first Kiss!

They kissed each other passionately. At first it was slow and nervous of the other person's reaction but soon it went wild.

They finally broke being out of breath as their breaths mingled and their foreheads resting on each other.

They stood motionless as the heard the fire crackers lighting up the sky with bright colours. The poolside decorated with Diya's and Fairy lights.

They smiled at each other.

"I LOVE YOU!"

They laughed. Their laughter mixing up with the loud noise of the crackers. Their eyes sparkling with the Fairy lights. Their arms around each other as their hearts were now at peace.

This year's Diwali too had been special as the Diwali Nights every year. But a little special this time.

Cupid and Psyche lived happily ever after.