Chapter 10:Clouds of Uncertainty
Arnav was ready in his tuxedo, looking as hot and dashing as ever. It had been over half an hour since he had arrived in the party and his eyes were practically glued to the entrance waiting for Khushi to appear.
Before coming to the party he had had a hard time containing himself from making a call to her or visiting her room once, asking if she would be coming to the party or not.
But the 'ASR' in him had chided him well enough for even thinking of visiting her.
She was trying to act indifferent to everything and here he was, acting like the
desperate one. That so wasn't like Arnav Singh Raizada!
Usually it was the girls going crazy about him and vice versa of it should not happen.
Thus, here he was. Nursing his ego and acting indifferent although his heart was about to burst with the sheer intensity of the expectance of her arrival.
"What if she doesn't come? Don't tell me you'll be going to her room and begging her to join the party" The derisive sound emerged in his head.
"What the?" He swore in answer.
"Keep swearing and the girl will keep f***ing with your brain. There is enough time, Raizada. Back off. It's not late. Girls are painkillers" The voice quoted Aman's words.
The storm of self-struggle could have continued till the doomsday, had not the mesmerizing sight before him blocked all the voices in his head.
He noticed Khushi who had just entered the hall.
Dressed in a plain red designer suit, she looked breath taking.
And as she noticed his eyes resting upon her, she forwarded him a completely professional smile and Arnav had been long enough in the business to tell it from a genuine one.
A fake smile. That's what you deserve for being so eager to see her. He thought in disappointment.
Well if she wants it to keep professional, so be it.
"Hello, Sir" He heard her say as she approached him and he too responded with a professional smile.
"I thought you weren't going to show up" He couldn't stop himself from commenting after a second which made her smile falter.
"No I was going to. I just...got caught up with few things. Had to pack and make a few phone calls" She replied, sounding her best.
"Okay, enjoy the party and the food. I'll be around" He said and left, surprising her which she masked well. She hadn't expected him to behave this cold.
Now she was supposed to enjoy a party she was hardly acquainted with. It was not like she hadn't ever been to such parties and places.
In her college days, a few friends of her had dragged her to such parties, asking her to open up and live the life but she hadn't ever developed a taste for them. She found them boring and too classy for herself.
So, she spent a few minutes going around, having a look at the place. The party was indeed well organized and was going on in full swing.
The dance floor was crowded but people danced gracefully unlike the wild animals on loose, the type of dance one always gets to see in nightclubs and at youngster parties.
As Khushi stood alone in a corner sipping a cocktail, she could feel his eyes watching her every move.
She threw a look at her watch and it said 9:12 p.m.
As per the laid custom, she had to spend a few more minutes before she could leave the party. Walking in the party, having a cocktail and leaving was considered rude, she had learnt it in her previous visits to such dinner parties.
"Excuse me, Miss Gorgeous, Can we dance?" She heard a voice behind her and turned back to notice a good-looking man who was evidently drunk and was practically leering at her bosoms.
She felt her muscles twitch in nervousness as he caught her hand in his, and bringing it to his mouth kissed it softly.
"Please, Miss. I'd be glad if you would dance with me" He said, stepping closer to her and Khushi wrinkled her nose as the smell of alcohol hit her.
This was bad. She thought.
"Oh come on, Miss Gorgeous, stop hesitating. I am a great dancer. I am sure you'll like the moves I got" He said, caressing the skin on the back of her palm with his thumb.
"I am sorry. I don't dance" Khushi said, pulling her hand back and trying to walk away but the man was quick.
As she tried to leave he blocked her path, coming to stand squarely before her.
"What's the big hurry, gorgeous? Lemme show you what I got." The man said in a suggestive voice.
"What say? Wanna learn some moves?" He continued again seeing her fidgeting in nervousness.
"Great idea, man" A third voice joined them, which undoubtedly belonged to Arnav Singh Raizada.
Seeing him, Khushi's breath relaxed which Arnav surely noticed.
"Arnav Singh Raizada?" The man said, awed and surprised.
"Yeah, you got it right and you surely have impressed me with your idea. Come Khushi, I'll teach you some moves on the dance floor." Arnav said, rather stated in a voice which couldn't be refused.
"Sir?" Khushi asked, not believing if she heard him right while the man was gaping at Arnav. Let's say he did not look very pleased by the idea.
"I said come with me" Arnav said and walked off the place with Khushi following him.
"Sir I don't want to.." Khushi said, as they neared the dancing floor, making Arnav turn at her sharply.
"Okay" she said as his intense gaze met her doubtful one.
Together they walked up to the dance floor, and that was the minute the song changed to a soft romantic tune.
~~***~~
"Enjoy the party and the food. I'll be around" Arnav heard himself and noticed the expression of surprise suffusing over her countenance.
Even he was surprised at his own words but now the words had been said and he couldn't back off.
So, leaving her standing there, he shifted towards a few business people he knew.
Although he had deprived himself of her proximity, his eyes incessantly monitored each muscle she moved.
As she glided from one corner of the hall to the other, holding a cocktail in her hand, he could clearly make out she was feeling uncomfortable.
"Hello, Mr. Raizada. It's a great pleasure to see you here" An elderly gentleman exclaimed, offering his hand with an amiable smile.
"Hello, Mr. Sen. Wasn't expecting you here. How are you? Had heard you weren't well." Arnav said, for once letting his concentration away for Khushi.
"What can I say? Old age isn't a really blissful stage, Mr. Raizada. The doctors said I have developed a heart problem. But it's good that my son is assisting me with the business. He recently joined our firm."
"That's good, Mr. Sen. Take care of yourself. I need a drink. see you around" Arnav said, as he noticed an evidently drunk young man approaching Khushi.
"One minute, Mr. Raizada. I would want you to meet my son. He's here in the party. A great admirer of your achievements. Just a second. He was right here." The man said, looking left and right while Arnav was getting impatient as he noticed the man was now holding Khushi's hand.
"Excuse me, Mr. Sen. I'll meet your son in a couple of minutes. I need to leave" Arnav said and turned to leave but the man tugged at his arm.
"There he is, Mr. Raizada. With that beautiful lady in red. Looks like he's got a partner for tonight" Mr. Sen said, pointing to the direction Arnav was already staring at.
Without waiting for another second, Arnav rushed towards Khushi, swearing upon himself for leaving her alone.
~~***~~
Arnav reached the place on time and handled the situation well. And now he was moving towards the dance floor along with Khushi.
Even though he had handled the situation well enough, he was aware he had landed himself into a more severe situation.
He was going to dance with Khushi.
Dance!
Which meant he will be standing right before her, holding and touching her. Her eyes will be on him and his on hers.
This was going to be a torture and the challenge for him was to keep his senses sober.
As they reached the dance floor, the song changed to a soft romantic tune, quite similar to the emotions whirling inside him.
Both of them stood squarely before each other and he could see hesitation in her eyes.
He chose a corner of the dance floor instead of the center and as the song started, the lights were dimmed; making the visibility poor yet there was enough light for the couples to see each other.
"Relax, Khushi. No one can see us properly in these lights. So you don't have to worry about what people are going to talk about us." Arnav said; as he placed his hand on her left shoulder while his other hand slipped down to hold her waist.
He could see her breath hitch the minute his hand landed on her waist.
"Khushi, keep your hand on my shoulder" He said in his husky voice and she lifted her gaze up to meet his caramel brown eyes.
A magical net was woven around them as their eyes met and Khushi's hand reached up to rest on his shoulders.
Her heart fluttered wildly as she noticed him closing his eyes as her hands made a contact with his body.
This was going to be a torture. She knew.
While Khushi stood still, inhaling his scent, her hand still resting on his shoulders, Arnav slowly opened his eyes.
He could feel his skin on fire as her hand touched him.
If this was his condition for now, he wondered what storms would take place if her hand comes in contact with his bare skin.
As the inner turmoil within him raged to glory, the soft music wafted to their ears and the lyrics seemed to portray his emotions well.
"Dil kyu ye mera shor kare..
Dil kyu ye mera shor kare
Idhar nahi, udhar nahi,
Teri...oar chale"
Maybe it was the low AC temperature or maybe it was the ignited passion within their bodies, but Arnav felt the need to be closer to her, so his hand travelled lower on her back and he pressed her closer to his body, putting his and Khushi's heart beats on Marathon.
"Sir" He heard a gasp emerge from her lips, as he caressed her back.
"Shh, Khushi" He said, his voice getting huskier second by second and she once again looked back in his eyes, to read the passion, love and desire in them.
Love? She wondered while Arnav brought his face closer to hers, never breaking the eye-lock.
"Jara der me ye kya ho gaya?
Nazar milte hi kaha kho gaya?
Ho...Jara der me ye kya ho gaya?
Nazar milte hi kaha kho gaya?"
"Sir...please" He heard her say as he placed his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling that lavender smell of her.
"Shh. You talk a lot, Khushi. Now it's my turn" He whispered back in her ears while his other hand was still caressing her back.
"I am sorry" He said and even though he wasn't looking at her face, he knew she was confused by his words.
"I am sorry for what I did this morning. And I am sorry for leaving you alone in the party. That man...It was all my recklessness" He said, feeling genuinely sorry.
"It's okay" She replied back, touched by his apology. Here he was apologizing for small things while she...
All her thoughts froze as she felt his lips touching her neck, not moving but resting there, bringing havoc on her senses.
"Can you feel the acidity, Khushi?" He murmured against her neck, his lips now slowly moving over the soft skin and she shook her head in denial.
"I thought so. Then it's just me. I don't know why but whenever I am this close to you, I get acidity in my stomach. It's like my insides are being tickled with something feathery" He said, letting out his feelings in a trance, unaware that the other person was feeling the same.
"I think the dance is about to be over" She replied back, wanting to be out of the place as soon as possible.
Those few words from him had brought down the walls she had built around her heart and she was feeling vulnerable.
This could be dangerous.
"I think I like you, Khushi" He let out the words, shocking her wits.
"And this morning, I wasn't carried away. I did it deliberately. I wanted to hear you say my name. I wanted to be close to you. And to add to your knowledge, I don't do this with every girl I meet. You are the first one, Khushi. You're the first girl I want to hold in my arms and do things which can't be said. I don't know why I feel this way for you. I think I am going crazy and we need to sort this out. I need to talk to you, in private"
As she stood pondering on his words, bemused what to reply, the song ended and the lights flooded the place again.
She instantly pulled herself away from Arnav, who was expecting a reply from her.
Loud applause echoed in the hall to appreciate the couples on the dance floor and Arnav sensed the loss of her warmth.
He looked around and noticed Khushi who was already walking swiftly in the crowd, making way towards the exit gallery.
That just infuriated him.
He wasn't done yet. There were things he wanted to talk about and she didn't even care to stand and listen to him completely.
This was not happening.
He followed her out and found her standing alone in a corner, talking over phone to someone.
She looked tensed and worried and angry.
"Khushi?" He approached her, in a maneuvered tone and she turned back at him, not surprised that he had followed her.
"I am not done talking to..."
"I am sorry sir but I need to leave. I am tired, I need rest." She said, looking down, not wanting to meet his gaze.
"And your dinner?" Arnav asked, controlling his urge to pin her against the gallery wall and have her listen to him until he had said everything he wanted to.
"I am not hungry. See you later" She said and hurried out, leaving him all alone in the gallery.
~~***~~
Khushi was swift and within seconds she was in her room, standing against the door, hyperventilating.
"I don't know why but whenever I am this close to you, I get acidity in my stomach. It's like my insides are being tickled with something feathery."
"I think I like you"
"You are the first one, Khushi. You're the first girl I want to hold in my arms and do things which can't be said. I don't know why I feel this way for you."
The words replayed in her head and she closed her eyes, with her one hand resting against her heart.
"I feel it too, Arnav" She murmured inaudibly.
"But it's of no use. Our feelings will lead us nowhere" She continued to herself and that was when the door was knocked.
"Khushi...! Open the door" She heard Arnav's terse voice, a voice she wasn't used to hearing from him.
There was no other option for her but to open the door, so she did.
As soon as she opened the door, Arnav rushed in, locking the door and pinning her against the door, his eyes brimming with myriad emotions.
"What..are you doing, Sir?" She asked, trying to sound confident.
"Exactly. That's what I want to know. What are you doing? Why do you have to be so obtuse?" He asked in a slow yet angry voice.
"What did I do now?" She demanded.
"You dare to ask that, Khushi? I told you I want to talk to you but..."
"Yes, I left. Because I don't want to talk about anything. I guessed that was loud and clear" She screamed back, now surprising him.
"But why?" He demanded this time, looking intensely at her.
"Because you're my boss and I am your PA. We shouldn't cross our limits. You have no right to manhandle me. You can't force me to talk to you." She said, fighting her tears, covering her vulnerability under her fake anger.
The words made his hold loose and slowly he withdrew his hands from her, stepping back.
Turning his back at her he closed his eyes shut.
This went totally wrong.
He wasn't supposed to manhandle her and scream.
He was indeed getting crazy.
"I am sorry again, Khushi. I lost control." He said once again turning at her but she wasn't looking at him.
"You're crying?" He asked in surprise, cupping her face in his hands and making her look at him.
"Stop crying, Khushi" He said in a soft voice, bringing his face close to hers, and wiping the tear stream with his thumb.
"I just wanted to talk to you, nothing else. But you weren't listening and I got mad and I shouted and I.." His words were caught up in his mouth as she raised her long lashes and looked up at him with tremulous lips.
The sight was the undoing of everything he was holding within.
And even before he knew, in a blink of an eye, he had placed his lips on hers, surprising himself as well as her.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved, savoring the feel of their lips over each other and then Arnav sensed her hand going up to clutch the lapels of his coat.
Her feet were too wobbly to support her weight so she clutched onto him for support.
Taking it as an initiation from her, Arnav softly moved his lips onto hers, earning the best moment of his life.
His heart was threatening to fall out, while his brain had gone numb with the feelings which were now coursing through his body.
He was amazed how a simple kiss can evoke such feelings within him?
For Khushi, the world and all rational thoughts had stopped existing. All she knew was her lips being brushed by his and the electricity which was running in her veins.
The kiss was light, soft and full of uncertainties.
Arnav now pulled back from the kiss and looked down at her closed eyes, her heaving chest and her strong clutch on the lapels of his coat.
He was learning her expressions and putting them in his memory.
Slowly she opened her eyes and met his meticulous gaze. Her gaze lingered on his lips which now had the red of her lipstick.
She didn't know (or maybe she knew) what provoked her to do it but she raised herself to her tiptoes and kissed him again, with equal longing and desperation.
The response from her was all Arnav needed.
He once again pushed her against the door and crashing his body into hers, deepened the kiss.
The sudden proximity to his body made her gasp, and that provided him the access to her mouth.
He intruded his tongue in her mouth and explored all her sweetness, making her moan.
The atmosphere around them was sweltering hot now but none of them seemed to care.
The wild passion went on for minutes until the lack of oxygen made them pull apart.
Arnav pulled back first and rested his head on her shoulder, combing her hair with his fingers.
As the breaths eased down and rationality was restored to them, Khushi shoved him away.
"Khushi..I.." Arnav started, as he realised what just took place between them.
"Another sorry isn't needed. Please leave" She said in a somber tone, ending all the prospects for him to talk.
"I had asked a waiter to bring your food up. He might be coming anytime. Do eat your food. We have to leave in next two hours" He replied awkwardly and left while Khushi sat down on her knees, hiding her face in her palms.
*******
Pearl_Oyster2018-04-25 12:45:23
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