Love Happens: Chapter 1

Shantivan, Delhi.

Living Room

Devyani, Subhadra, Anjali, Shyam, Manohar and Manorama were sitting in the living room and talking about their upcoming plans. Just then Arnav, Akash and NK entered the living room. They had just returned from the office.


"It is good that you three came. Chotey, you do remember my childhood friend Manyata Singhania right?" asked Devyani. Seeing Arnav nod she continued "she called me today evening and personally invited our whole family to their hotel The Mumbai Royal' opening which is in a week. She said that I haven't met her for almost two years so this is a perfect opportunity for me and the whole family to meet her and her family".


"Sure nani if the whole family wants to go to Mumbai next week, I'll have the arrangements done" said Arnav.


"The whole family includes you as well right Chotey?" inquired Devyani.


Arnav sighed "sorry nani but I won't be coming. I have an important meeting next week" said Arnav.


Before Devyani could say anything, NK said "but Nannav that meeting can be handled by our purchase manager as well. I don't see why you can't come to Mumbai with the whole family".

Arnav gave NK 'shut your mouth NOW' look but NK wasn't paying attention to Arnav.


"That's wonderful. Now Chotey will also come with us to Mumbai. I can't wait to go there. I have heard that they have hosted a party as well; I bet I'll meet a lot of film stars there. And then there is shopping, site seeing, having street food etc. It will be so much fun" exclaimed Anjali gleefully.


"Hold it di, I haven't said yes to going to Mumbai. I'll have to take care of lot of things if I want to go to Mumbai and even if I go to Mumbai with you all I don't have time to have fun. I'll have to do my work from there" said Arnav.


"Don't decline Chotey. I really want my whole family to meet Manyata. And this time I'll get to spend plenty of time with her granddaughter Khushi. Besides it's been a really long time that we have gone for a vacation. I want you to enjoy with us and let go of the tension of the work for few days. For once I want you to live and enjoy your life for yourself" said Devyani.


"Don't be a spoil sport Nannav" said NK


"Even I am going to Mumbai and you know I don't like such events. Besides you don't want to hurt your Nani's feelings, do you?" asked Subhadra.


"And bhai, it will be good for AR to attend the opening and the party. We do so much business with Singhania hotels" said Akash.


"And we are acquainted with the Singhania's for a very long time now and they are a very influential family. It will increase our goodwill and the faith of our investors in us if they know that we have connections with Singhania's" explained Manohar.


Arnav saw that his family members were looking at him expectantly. He thought about what everybody said and sighed. Finally he nodded. This was enough for them to start making plans for next week.


"Sometimes I think that Chotey only understands the language of business. We were trying to make him agree to come to Mumbai for so long and when Akash and Manohar stated the profit in going to Mumbai and he agreed" complained Devyani.


"What is wrong in thinking about the business? If men will not think about business then who will? And he has a business to run and a family to support" said Subhadra


"There is nothing wrong in thinking about business, but it is time he got married and starts enjoying his life and not just think about the family" said Devyani.


Seeing that the family was about to start another argument regarding his marriage, Arnav went to his room to get fresh.


Seeing Arnav go from there Devyani said "I hope he finds a girl who will help him let go of the past and make him realize that it's OK to be selfish and think about our own wishes. I want to see the carefree and naughty Chotey he was before Ratna died".


Everyone agreed but Subhadra and Anjali did not comment.

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Arnav's Bedroom


Great, how did I end up saying yes to Mumbai? Now I'll have to delegate the work to someone else. But then it's fine. Going to the opening will be beneficial professionally. AR does have tie ups with the Singhania hotels. It will be good publicity and nani will also feel good. And if I agree, then maybe they will leave the marriage topic aside for some time. Why can't they understand that I don't want to marry? Anyways, how boring can Mumbai be? I have met Mr. Khurana and he seems nice. And I have heard that the K' is also going to be present at the opening. Let's see if she is as good as people say she is. And I think we'll visit the Mumbai branch as well and see how things are going there.


Thinking this he went to freshen up in the bathroom. Little did he know that this trip was going to change his life forever.

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Singhania House, Mumbai.

Dining Room

Everyone was gathered at the dining table for dinner.


"Where is Gudiya? Did anyone call her?" asked Manyata


"Yes dadi, I called her" said Payal "she said she is coming in 10 minutes"


"This girl does not care for anything other than her work. When will she learn?" said Manyata.


"You are right dadi. Look at me, in spite of so much work due to the hotel opening I am still on time" added Lavanya mischievously.


"Please, almost all the work is done and Jay is also there to help you. And talking about Khushi, she is way busier than you for she is helping with the hotel arrangements and many of the guests that are attending the opening are her clients as well. And Kunal and Naina can only do so much work" said Payal.


"Well everybody wants to look their best for The Singhania Party'. And if you want to look your best you got to take help from K' the best fashion consultant" said Lavanya proudly.


"Well thank you for the lovely words Lav" they heard and turned towards the voice to see Khushi walking towards the dining table.


"There you are. Is this the time to come home? You know that all the family members have to be present for dinner at the dining table" said Manyata in mock anger.


"Sorry dadi. You do know that due to the hotel opening and the party, I have a lot of client appointments and deadlines to meet." said Khushi while kissing Manyata's cheek and sitting down to have dinner.


"But look at you gudiya, you have become so thin. No, all three of you have become thin, always running around without caring for your health. You all will get sick like this" said Sarita.


The dinner was served and all started eating.


"Don't worry disa you're there to make sure we eat on time. And you anyway make us eat more than our capacity" said Khushi winking at Sarita.


"I do not do any such thing. I just make sure that you all eat properly. Besides you all need the energy with the amount of running around you do every day" defended Sarita.


"I know disa that it is your way of showing love. And without you what would we do" said Lavanya dramatically. Khushi and Payal supported her and Manyata smiled at their antics.


"Stop buttering me and have your dinner. I want all the food in your plate eaten" said Sarita strictly.


"Yes Ma'am" said all the three girls.


"But there is actually no time to spare these days, there is a lot of work due to the opening" said Lavanya.


"Fine I'll excuse you all till the opening. By the way I called Devyani today to invite her family to the opening personally. But Lavanya do sent them an official invite at the earliest" said Manyata.


Lavanya nodded while eating.


"That's good dadi. What did she say? Are they coming? I can't wait to meet her. The last time i met her was when I was 17 and she had come to Mumbai for some property matter. And even then I was lucky to meet her for I was here due to my vacations" said Khushi.


"She hasn't confirmed as of yet. She said she will talk to her grandson Arnav and tell us. But if they do confirm then I want their staying arrangements to be made at the house. After all Devyani is my childhood friend" said Manyata.


"You don't worry dadi, we'll take care of everything" said Payal.


"By Arnav you mean ASR, right dadi? I have heard about him. And we do business with them as well" said Lavanya.


"Yeah Arnav and ASR are the same" said Manyata.


"Really, Arnav is ASR? Then I'd surly like to meet him. I admire his designs so much. And I personally do a lot of business with AR" said Khushi.


"You all can met him only if he comes" said Payal


"He will come, I know he won't let go of this opportunity. People are dying to attend our party. People know that attending a Singhania party will be beneficial to them so ASR won't miss this opportunity. After all he is not ASR for nothing" explained Manyata.


"I think you are right dadi" said Lavanya


"And when they come I want you all to BEHAVE NICELY in front of them. I don't want your usual antics in front of them. They are our guests" warned Manyata.


Khushi, Lavanya and Payal looked at Manyata innocently with 'who us' expression and laughed. Sarita smiled and gestured Manyata to speak with Khushi.


"I almost forgot to tell you gudiya, when I called Mrs. Shastri today to invite them for the opening, she was saying that she is looking for a girl for her son Sumit" said Manyata cautiously.


Khushi understood where this conversation was going and said "not again dadi. I have made it perfectly clear that I don't want to marry"


"But you are 26 years old now. If not now than when will you marry gudiya?" asked Manyata


"I just know that I am not ready to marry now and may be not even in the future. Now excuse me, I am done with my dinner. I have a lot of work so I'll go to my room. Please don't disturb me" said Khushi and went away.


Everyone knew why Khushi did not want to get marry.


"I hope a man comes in her life who will make her realize that not all marriages are like her parent's marriage and will give her all the love that my gudiya deserves" said Manyata and wiped a tear.


"That time will come very soon. You just have patience and keep faith in god" said Sarita.


Everybody consoled Manyata and decided not to talk about marriage with Khushi for a while.

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Khushi's Bedroom


I have firsthand witnessed what marriage does to people. I have no interest in marriage. Why can't they understand me? Anyways let's not think about this thing. I have lot of important things to do. And what did Dadi say? Behave properly. She was telling us to behave properly as if we are kids who don't know how to behave in front of others. I just hope that there is no problem in the hotel opening and the Raizada's don't have any trouble while staying here. And most importantly I can't wait to meet ASR. I have heard a lot about him. I wonder if he is that great a fashion designer people say he is. And I do have tie ups with AR fashion house Mumbai branch. And I would like to know Arnav as well and not just ASR. Devyani auntie speaks a lot about her Chotey.

Thinking this she went to the study to complete the pending work. Little did Khushi know that the Raizada's visit will change her life forever.