Chapter 12

Chapter 12:"Do you feel the same?"

"Do you feel the same?"

"I think I like you"

The words from Arnav during the dance refused to leave Khushi's mind.

She could hear them echoing again and again and pricking her heart every time.

She lay still on her bed in Gupta house, next to Payal who was supposedly sleeping.

After two more hours of silent driving and her continuous obtuseness, Arnav had given up his attempts of digging any more conversations though he hadn't forgotten to wish her Good night as he had dropped her before her house.

It had taken all her might to not wish him back but just nod her head in acknowledgement.

On the other hand Arnav hadn't really expected her to reply but it did twitch a string in his heart.

Her silence was making things hard for him but he had decided to not probe things further.

Maybe she needed some time to get used to this change within him. Hell! He too needed some time.

This trip had been a roller coaster ride of emotions for him. He had discovered that just in a few weeks he had developed a liking for Khushi and behaving like a desperate teenager, he had even said that out loud to her. Thus, making her confused.

So giving a last look towards her already retreating frame, he had driven out of the area. The fading sound of his SUV had been like needles in her ears. He was gone and she felt extremely agonized.

Maybe she should have smiled at him and wished him back. That was all he would have been expecting from her. But she couldn't offer him even that.

She was a horrible person and she knew that.

"Hate me, Arnav" She mumbled as a tear escaped her eyes and travelling down her cheeks, landed on the pillow her head was resting.

As the drop was absorbed by the pillow, more drops followed the course.

~~***~~

As sleep eluded Arnav, he decided to take a walk.

Crossing the poolside and climbing the stairs he reached the terrace to be welcomed by a strong and chilling gush of air.

January indeed was working its miracle on Delhi.

It was freezing cold outside and thick layers of fog and mist had descended over the city.

The cold winds hit against his face and chest and the hair falling on his forehead swayed lightly. The coldness of the atmosphere brought him the memory of the kiss he had shared with her.

The warm, soft and the beautiful kiss.

His hands clutched the ice cold metal railing as he slowly closed his eyes, letting his thoughts wander freely. Yes there she was.

Dressed in a long flowing white gown, smiling widely and running in a meadow full of lavenders. The sound of her laughter was the sweetest music he had heard. It made his heart feel live like never before.

"Arnav" She called his name as she ran gracefully. Her long silky tresses flowed and rippled on her back as she ran.

But why is she running? He thought with a smile, his eyes still closed.

"Told you I am faster. Try catching me" She said with a slow laugh, revealing her pearly white teeth and then he noticed himself there.

He was chasing her and his face too had a bright sunny smile. This was indeed the most beautiful picture.

As he saw himself increase his pace and catch her by her waist, the smile on his face broadened.

He lifted her off the ground by her waist and twirled her around while she continued laughing.

"Bhai?" The beautiful dream was disturbed and the vision quickly blurred away. He opened his eyes instantly and turned back to find Akash on the terrace.

"Akash?" He asked, walking towards him, the inside of his hand still cold because of the railing.

"I visited your room, Bhai but found it empty. So I guessed you might be at the poolside or here" Akash said.

"Yes I just...couldn't sleep." Arnav replied looking away.

"You look disturbed, Bhai. Is something bothering you? Is it the conference? It didn't go well?" Akash enquired as they together walked downstairs.

"No. It went good. The deal is ours. I am just tired. What about you? You were looking for me? You need something?" Arnav asked, placing a hand on Akash's shoulder.

"I need some money, Bhai. I was thinking about throwing a party for my friends and..." Akash trailed off his sentence.

"But I had asked Aman to transfer ten lakhs in your account the previous month. Didn't he?" Arnav asked, now both of them heading towards Arnav's room.

"He did but I had to spend that amount on something so I need more" Akash replied, his body language getting indignant.

"Ten lakhs on something?" Arnav enquired and could see Akash wasn't happy with the question. But he hardly cared.

It was not like Arnav wanted to have records of the expenditures done by Akash but spending money on unnecessary things was something Arnav didn't favour.

He worked hard at this company to earn this money and he wanted Akash to do the same in near future. But for that, Akash needed to understand the value of hard work and money.

For now, he used to transfer fixed amounts in Akash and Anjali's bank accounts for their expenditures.

But for Akash those were never enough.

He had always been reckless and spendthrift. Surrounded with the type of people who admired his heavy pockets, Akash took pride in it. To him, money was a source of influential power and he wanted more of it.

Arnav always treated him as his younger brother, never letting him take the risks and pampered him same as Anjali but of late, Akash took it for granted.

Partying out with friends, girls, drinking, smoking had become his favourite past time. Easy money was what Akash aspired now. And Arnav was the source of it.

"Fine, Bhai. I understand. If you don't want to give me the amount, just say it. You don't have to be so indirect" Akash replied sharply and turned to leave.

What more he could expect from his elder brother? He had always been this way, overshadowing him in every possible way.

But no more.

He wasn't going to allow him to demean him anymore.

"Akash, why do you have to behave so rude?" Arnav asked, making Akash stop in his tracks.

"Bhai, why do you have to be so dominating all the time? I am not a kid anymore" Akash replied and left, leaving Arnav in wonders.

Was the situation worsening?

Had he somewhere went wrong with Akash? He will have to investigate. He couldn't just let his brother get distant from him.

He loved him, like his own brother.

~~***~~

"Good morning, Sir" Arnav nodded his head to the wishes which were being directed at him as he walked towards his cabin the next morning.

"Khushi, get me a coffee" He said in the intercom as soon as he took his seat in the cabin. Khushi was already present in her separate cubicle and Arnav could see her through the blinds.

She was wearing a cyan coloured Chudidaar and looked as beautiful as ever. Her hair was done in a loose bun and the strands falling on her face just added to her beauty.

"Focus, Arnav" He reminded himself and drew his eyes away from the blinds as she rose from her seat to leave towards the coffee room.

As she returned with the coffee and placed the cup on his table, she expected him to glance at her but he didn't and with a deep sigh she asked, "Anything more you need, Sir?"

"Yes, Miss Gupta. Please take this file to Aman and tell him to review this. Also ask him to visit me once he's done" Replied Arnav as he grabbed the cup from the table and sipped the hot liquid, not obliging even a look at her.

"Sure" She replied and left the cabin with a dejected face, missing the amused smile forming on Arnav's face.

Ignorance affects her!! He noted.

~~***~~

After delivering the file to Aman's cabin Khushi was heading back to her cubicle.

She was passing by the store room when she felt two hands grabbing her waist and yanking her inside the room, locking the door after her.

The room was flooded with darkness and she couldn't see the face of her abductor.

She felt herself being pinned against the door, her hands held on either side of her head.

"Leave me" She hissed in a voice mixed of fear and anger. Her wriggling body froze in shock as she sensed the person's body being pressed against hers and she gasped.

She knew the touch.

"Arnav?" She asked, her eyes furiously trying to have a glimpse of his face. Slowly as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could finally see his face which held myriad expressions on them.

"How did you know it was me?" He let out the question in his husky voice.

"Sir..." She started but he placed a finger a on her lips and silenced her.

"Call me, Arnav" He whispered, his eyes never leaving her face.

"You better listen to him" Her mind told her as she recalled the previous encounter where he had forced her to say his name.

"Arnav, what are you doing? Step aside" She told him, her eyes pleading.

"No..! Not until you answer each of my question" He replied back.

"I don't know what you are talking about. This is no interview and I have no questions to answer" she replied back, ready to fight him back. She couldn't give up.

"Why did you kiss me back that night?" He asked, ignoring her statement and her eyes widened in surprise.

She hadn't expected him to ask this question with such directness. And now when he had, she was at a loss of words.

"Look at me and answer, Khushi" He demanded, leaving her hands and holding her by her shoulders.

"I have told you that I like you. Don't you think you need to react to this?" He further asked, making her fumble mentally.

"Arnav..! Please let me go" She said, her gaze fixed at the buttons of his jacket as she avoided looking at him.

"I need my answers" He replied, tightening his hold on her shoulder and she winced, making him quickly withdraw his hands.

"I am sorry.. I'm very sorry, Khushi. I didn't mean to..." He said, cupping her cheeks and she flinched at the touch. He was practically wounded by her response to his touch.

"Okay, don't answer my question. But hear me out" He said, taking a few steps back.

"I have always thought that love is an overrated feeling in this world so I wouldn't even talk about it. But I just want to make this thing clear that I like you, Khushi. I really do. You affect me like no one ever has. It's you I want to feel around me, it's you I want to see all the time, It's you I want to think about. And all these sudden feelings are confusing me. I don't know what to name this! So, I thought I should ask you. I want to know if you feel the same way or not? We can handle it like two adult people instead of playing I-spy with our feelings. If you feel the same way, we can take this further. If you don't, just say it to my face. I'll handle myself." He said, all in one long breath and all this while Khushi looked straight in his eyes, reading the sincerity in them.

As he stopped talking she felt like hugging him and saying 'yes'. She too feels the same way for him.

But she stood like a statue, staring at his face.

"You need time to think?" He asked after a second, trying to understand her situation and she nodded in affirmation.

"Okay. Take it then. And until you answer, we can be just friends" He offered with a supportive smile and she nodded back.

"Fine. So, from now on, you're Khushi and I am Arnav. Let's drop the 'Sir and Miss Gupta' Agenda" He told her, feeling immensely relieved after sharing his feelings and she nodded again.

"I am heading for a meeting now. I will be back in two hours. By that time I want you to prepare a soft copy of our upcoming ventures and details about them." He told her and she nodded again.

"See you later" He said and exited out of the room, leaving Khushi in a fix.

******

Pearl_Oyster2018-04-27 08:10:04