Chapter 48

Thank you for all the love. Means a lot. 

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Chapter 48

Failing to find him anywhere, her mind flooding with uneasy thoughts she hastily walked towards the only room left. “Did he go out? Oh No! Did he already leave? Did I miss him?” Overcome with panic she reflexively slammed the room door open.

Instantly reacting, Arnav turned to see what the loud bang was. His gaze meeting her intently staring caramels, he casually said going back to his business, “Khushi! You woke up. Did you get good sleep?”

“What are you doing?”  she asked, peeved.

Oblivious to her annoyance he replied calmly, “Isn’t it obvious? I am packing.”

His relaxed demeanor combined with him not meeting her eye when speaking, every tiny thing added fuel to her earlier uneasiness. Briskly moving in she sourly uttered, “I am not asking about that. You are enquiring how I slept!? Why did you let me sleep?”

Finally making eye contact, he teased arching a brow, “So you are saying, I shouldn’t have let you sleep?”

“YES!!”, she replied in a split second surprising him. Water promptly accumulating in her dow eyes, she accusingly exclaimed with her hands flying around in frustration, “Why did you? I didn’t want to sleep. I wasn’t even trying to. I don’t know how I fell asleep. I feel so bad about it. The little time I had before I left, I wanted to spend it with you. Do you even know how lost and empty I felt when I didn't find you around after waking up? How devastating it was to think you already left and I didn’t even get to say bye? How worried I was contemplating if and when I will meet you again? How terrified I felt at the thought of not seeing you again? If you ... like them... I.. ” the lump in her throat paralyzing her, she abruptly stopped, her voice breaking towards the end.

Closing the distance between them, reaching her in a flash he swiftly but gently wrapped her in his arms. And as soon as he did that her restraint broke free and cuddling him back she wept fighting the fear which is not leaving her. The anxiety rooted soo deep that he was not sure what he can do or say to make it go away. Terror so great, that it was visible to the naked eye. It was her constant nightmare of losing him forever, of not being able to meet him ever again. 

Clearly understanding her inner turmoil, caressing her hair he reassured her softly whispering into her ear. “Khushi, you are stuck with me for this life. I am not going anywhere and am never going to leave you. Nor will I let anyone take you from me. No one can separate us. Believe me. Very soon I will come and take you away from your uncle. Please don’t cry. And I let you sleep earlier because you looked so peaceful asleep. I didn’t have the heart to wake you up. Maybe I should have like you said. I am sorry.” Loosening his grip, creating a slight gap between them, and holding her face, he affectionately wiped her tears. Noticing her eyes cast down, donning a loving smile, he playfully bent a little while tilting his head trying to grab her attention.     

His words gave a sense of calmness to her frantic heart, suppressing her previous stress. Still cuddling him, she faintly smiled back through her tears and asked, “How do you understand what I am thinking every single time?”

“Well, not every time. I just get lucky sometimes.”, he said, winking at her with a smirk. His face suddenly turning stiff he cupped her cheeks and urged, “Khushi! Are you sure you want to go back? You can come home with me. Don’t worry about everyone, I will handle them.”

“No. No, Arnavji. I can’t. We can’t risk the lives of kids in the orphanage.”

“But Khushi! I am not comfortable leaving you alone with those scoundrels.”

“Don’t worry. I am used to them. I have to go back.”

He already knew her answer but he still wanted to try. If it was up to him, he would never let her away from his sight but, he would not do that. He can never force her. She is free to choose whatever she pleases and he wanted to support her decision keeping aside his opinions. As long as they have this hold on her, there is nothing he could do to change her mind.

Sensing his uneasiness, placing her head next to his heart and snuggling him she pacified, “I will be fine, Arnavji. Trust me.”

Setting his concerns aside, snaking his arms around her waist he held her close, treasuring her and this precious time.

The corner of her eye spotting something, she broke the hug and straight away asked expectantly, “The suit! Did you like the suit?”

Peeking at the suit that is lying on the bed he sincerely replied turning back to her, “Ummm… To tell you the truth, I don’t wear that color.” 

Her face instantly turning pale she mumbled, “Oh! You didn’t like it. You see I... I have zero knowledge about men's clothes let alone suits. I shouldn’t have gifted you that. I don’t know what I was thinking. I wanted to get you something special and a suit seemed like a great idea at that time. Maybe I ...”

“Khushi! Stop. You didn’t let me finish. But before I do that, I want to know why you picked that Suit?” he asked sternly, silently enjoying her anxious expressions.

“Well, since I spoiled your suit at Mehendi, I thought…”

“Not that. I meant that color.” he cut her short hiding his curiosity to hear her answer.

“That…. I always see you wearing dark hues. I mean there is nothing wrong with it. Dark colors suites you. I just thought adding a little bright color will make you more cheerful. Also, when I imagined you in it, I truly felt this color will look very good on you. But I turned out to be wrong. Sorry.” she apologetically clarified.

“No. You are right. Yes, I don’t prefer bright colors but I don’t mind wearing special ones. When I wore your suit everyone complimented me. You chose amazingly well for your first time. Irrespective of my inclination, I loved it. Thank you!”, he sweetly explained making her smile ear to ear.

Filling his heart with the visual of her smiling ecstatically, he earnestly asked cupping her cheek delicately, “Khushi! Do you have to? I can easily drop you and leave. It is really not a big deal if I take the next flight.”

Resting her palm over his, she pressed it slightly into her cheek and assured, “I will be fine. Please go.”

“But Khushi…” Before he could say anything further they heard knocking on the door. Checking his watch he announced, “It must be Aman” as he strode towards the door.

Standing in the hall Khushi noticed Aman handing over a package to Arnav before he ordered, “Complete the checkout and wait outside. She will be there in a bit.”

As Aman left, Arnav returned to her and said while passing the small bag her way, “This is for you.”

Staring at him questioningly she took it when right on queue he answered as if reading her thoughts, “It’s a phone. You can’t talk to me with the one you have. I am sure they are monitoring it even at home. So, keep this. My number is already saved. You can call me anytime. Got it.”

With a tight-lipped smile, she gazed at him dotingly for a fraction before taking him into a bear hug with all her might and whispered sweetly, “I will miss you.” But her words were not required. Her sentiments got through to him even before she spoke by just looking into her ever mesmerizing eyes which like always reflected her soul.

As she clasped him more tightly reflecting her inner turmoil, he hugged her back suffering the same unrest as her. Neither keeping tab on the ticking clock, they stayed there intertwined in each other's embrace seeking solace in each other as ever. She gave his cold, chaotic life an oasis of serenity and he gave her soulless, despaired life a beautiful fairytale. 

Being the first to pull away, Khushi spoke, her gaze downcast and voice melancholy, “I don’t want to delay you. I should leave.” 

Right when she swiftly moved past him to the main door, he impulsively reached out for her arm and jerked her to the side. Succeeding in pinning her to the wall, his radiant lips crashed against her plump ones at lightning speed. 

Khushi who was taken by surprise at first could have easily moved away but she felt confined in the proximity of everything he was. Her senses subdued by the staggering rush of adrenaline gushing from corners of her hair strands to the tips of her toes, she finally let all her apprehensions that were buried deep inside take a back seat. For the first time, she had no place for any fear or insecurity. Now there existed only love, love for this man and nothing else. 

Arnav was totally consumed by his strong emotions to realize the change in her body language. His tongue finding its way into her mouth he was fervently exploring every inch of it when she started reciprocating his actions entangling hers with his. Their emotions running high it felt like a clash of their passion. Moving his hand away from her cheek he snaked it around her waist and pulled her to him while she ran her fingers through his thick hair and tugged him even closer. As if she herself was not ample to evoke the dormant desires in him, her action set him ablaze. Opening his eyes abruptly, he glanced at her closed orbs. Battling hard to restrain himself, with no intention of scaring her like the last time he let go of her lips slowly, gauging her each expression. 

The moment he halted, her caramels shot open, staring directly into his chocolate browns. His gaze holding hers, bending gently, he placed a delicate kiss on her jawline and she promptly closed her eyes with anticipation. That was all he needed from her to let his feelings take over. Wasting no time, he left a trail of kisses starting from her jawline all the way down to the end of her neck.

Each kiss, sending shivers down her spine, Khushi struggled to keep her balance as his warm breath brushed through her cold skin, unnerving her. If that was not enough to make her lose her sanity, his alluring lips made contact with the curve at the end of her neck, burning her whole and melting her into a puddle. Unable to hold her ground, she grabbed onto the first thing she could get a hold of, his hair. Reflexively, her one hand clutching his shoulder, the other grabbed his hair yanking his head in the process. 

Her actions enthralling him, his every restraint collapsing he fiercely left kiss after kiss each getting more passionate than the other making her moan in ecstasy, engulfing her in the flames along with him. “Oh Khushi! What are you doing to me?” he breathed between kisses. 

Khushi who was already struggling to hold her footing every time his moist lips touched her, gathered the last ounce of energy to stay afloat as he started sucking her skin little at a time adoringly. And to her dismay, this sweet torture of his not ending there, he nibbled near her collar bone making her moan in both pain and pleasure. The very last ounce of her stamina ultimately bailing on her, her legs giving in, she collapsed exhausted.

Immediately sensing her weight completely on him, he swiftly held her tightening his grip around her, and enveloped her in a hug, supporting her. He could feel her chest heaving against his body as she gasped for air making him realize he went too far. That he pushed her to her extreme limit. But he didn’t regret his actions since he knew she craved for him just as much as he did for her. Because she enjoyed it just as much as he did. Lovingly holding the precious soul that is still panting out of breath, he let out an ecstatic smile and whispered, “Thanks for coming to me, Khushi. You made me the happiest man on the planet.”

His words reached her and she wished to respond, wanted to say she felt the same but remained silent absolutely drained out of strength. Exhaustion totally seizing her, she was left in a state where her body no longer listened to her mind. Her whole being was in flames threatening to set anything and everything she touched on fire. The shiver evoked from his last feat still sending electric currents through her bones she simply stayed put with her palms clasping onto either side of his shirt, forehead resting on his shoulder, frozen in his embrace unable to get a grip over her palpitating heart.  

Both perfectly lost in each other's company, stillness surrounded the room when the sudden ring of his phone echoed loudly breaking their tranquility. Taken by surprise, Khushi jerked away from him in a flash before realizing what it was.

“Khushi, relax! It is just my cellphone.”, he immediately explained trying to calm her nerves. 

Both embarrassed and bashful, she promptly cast her gaze down and stuttered, “I… I … I need … Restroom.” and taking quick strides disappeared before he could react.

Watching her vanish, his focus shifting to the mobile he is holding which flashed, “Di Calling….” Taking one quick peep in her direction he picked up the phone hastily and answered, “Yes Di!”

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Standing in front of the mirror Khushi took slow deep breaths, attempting to calm herself. As her erratic heart made failed efforts to find its long-lost normal pace, her eyes fell on her reflection in the mirror. The sight before her made her face turn from tomato red to beet red. Gawking in shock, her attention completely on her collar bone, she examined the brand new red mark that appeared on her body courtesy of his earlier action. “Oh No! What did he do? What should I do?” she said, biting her lip self-conscious. 

Mumbling to herself, she started to wrap the dupatta around her neck as if getting ready to strangle herself, “How could he do this? Why does he always tease me like this? But Khushi! Why did you not stop him? You did this to yourself. Accept it, you are as responsible for your condition as much as he is. ...  Umm… Yes! This looks good. Nothing is visible. Great job, Khushi.” Proud of her solution, with a quick look at herself in the mirror she started splashing water on her face over and over. This answer was all she could come up with for her other problem where her now crimson face was refusing to go back to its original hue nor was her heart calming down. After what felt like forever, finally managing to wash away her nervousness, she succeeded in composing herself. 

Stepping out of the restroom she right away noticed that his clothes were no longer on the bed. Instinctively turning to the door she spotted a suitcase standing there all set to go, and a tiny knot formed in the pit of her stomach. Hiding her sadness she walked to him donning a smile and asked, “Shall we leave?”

Studying her for a second, he reached her in a few steps and adjusted her dupatta without paying heed to her pleas, demands, and threats. Her dupatta now hanging on her shoulder like always, he vehemently moved her palm which she adamantly held over her neck in an attempt to hide the blemish which is now visible clear as day. 

“I don’t want you to hide it. I want this hickey to remind you of me when we are apart. This will give you company in my absence. To remind you that you are not alone and I am always with you.”, he declared as she shied away.

Lifting her chin up to get a clear view of the face she was adamantly trying to hide from him, he lovingly gazed into her eyes and said, “Khushi, this parting is only for a little while. I will come for you very soon and make you mine forever. Trust me and stop worrying. Ok?”

“How can he read me so well?”, she thought to herself feeling gratified, and smiled broadly.

“You go first. If we leave together someone might spot us. I explained everything to Aman, he will drop you home carefully. If you need any help or if any problem arises, take his help. He is here for that purpose only. If that father-son duo trouble or hurt you in any way, you will directly inform me. It is better that you call me when you are alone. I don’t want to call and get you in trouble. Also, make sure you call me every day. Anytime is fine. Got it?”, he spoke warmly. With that, cupping her face, bending slightly, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead and added, “I love you, Ms.Khushi Kumari Gupta. I never thought I would even believe in ‘love’ let alone say these 3 words. But now all I want is to keep repeating it to you again and again, for life.”

As he released her, she softly stroked his cheek feeling him, looked at him affectionately one last time, and turning around, swiftly walked out of the door without looking back even once. Reaching a few feet away from the room she stopped abruptly in the corridor and shut her eyes tight fighting back her tears. Getting her emotions in check she took a glance at the door behind and mumbled disappointed, “Why didn’t I say bye? Why was I not able to at least utter ‘I love you too’? Even though I feel miserable I should have said something. What must he be feeling? How could I? I am sorry, Arnavji. I just didn’t want you to see my tears. I don’t want you to see me like this before we parted.” Shifting her gaze up, she spotted Aman straight ahead at the far end of the corridor waiting for her. Swallowing hard, she inhaled deeply pulling herself together and marched towards him as he pressed the lift to escort her from there, away from him. Her Arnavji.

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- Hope

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