Chapter 21

As Arnav sped the car towards Chanakyapuri, he could feel Khushi's steady, unwavering gaze on him. He tried to concentrate hard on the road ahead. He was having super success in his mission to avoid Khushi Kumari Gupta up until now! It had been a little more than 29hours than he had last seen Khushi, than he had made a pact with himself to keep his association with her to a possible minimum & he was already reeling with the way her scent, that unique vanilla scent of her was engulfing him in a foggy aura. What's up with him & this scent? Arnav thumped his hand over the steering wheel frustratedly. Normally he didn't exhibit this almost canine-like ability to discern the accurate scent of some mere girl! & vanilla? Isn't that a scent that primarily came from cakes & pastries? Things he avoided out of necessity & out of dislike? Why did he find that scent to be ferally attractive all of a sudden? & more to the point, why was his senses assaulted with it whenever he came within a 10 feet radius of this girl?

 

 

"What is this vanilla scent that keeps coming from you?" He asked in a totally frustrated tone, & then halted with a catch in his voice, as if he couldn't believe he had just said that out loud. He stole an appraising glance at her face & saw that she was looking at him with rounded eyes & her lips slightly parted in her surprise at his completely out-of-place, out-of-the-blue query. Arnav shrugged mentally, & the voice in his head suddenly piped up, 'Well she is not the only one you've shocked with that weird question! Seriously?' Arnav cursed his own inner voice with a cuss word so crass that he cringed himself & he wondered, what her reply was gonna be. Was she going to act outraged, or shocked, or all haughty with indignation, like she had done when he had commented on the length of her dress? Arnav briefly closed his eyes in frustration he remembered that occasion too. Why did he keep asking these peculiarly tactless questions to her?

 

 

He came out of his hopeless inner fight when he heard her tentative voice say softly, "It's my conditioner. It's designed for climate control. You know how extreme Delhi's Winters & Summers are? It keeps my hair at least marginally manageable. It's very good actually. I'd recommend it..." Khushi charged on nervously. She felt so many butterflies fluttering in her stomach, that she felt sure any minute they were just gonna be drilling out of her stomach to continue their fluttering outside. She just knew, she had to keep talking, so that she didn't have to look at him & so that he won't see the love that must be pouring out of her eyes right now! He asked about the way she smelled. He noticed! & it was just way too much for Khushi to take in without getting all flustered. But as she kept on blabbering, not even knowing, what she was saying, she suddenly felt a hand pressing her right one that was nervously clenching-unclenching, lying over her lap.

 

 

She looked up at Arnav's unblinking eyes, which looked almost liquid right now, & the caramel had turned into pools of melted chocolate. & before he could say anything further to make her even more flustered, she babbled on, "Not that you need conditioning! Your hair looks fine. They look great. A little less gel, maybe? But still, they look good that way too. Crisp & unyielding. Just like you! Hai Devi Maiyya, why am I saying all this? SAVE ME!" & she looked up at him to see if he had taken offence at her nonsense, he saw his face was averted from hers, as he was trying to consult the side glass of his side as he was turning into the right lane.

 

 

Little did she know that Arnav hadn't averted his face because he had taken offence, he had averted his face so that she wouldn't see his lips twitching with amusement. & if the muscles surrounding his lips, by now so used to the regular movements of only pressing, snapping, & snarling, hadn't refused, actually cringed, at the thought of laughing out loud, he'd have done exactly that. He found her exceptionally entertaining. Whereas talkative women in the past used to irritate him to no bounds & it was established knowledge that he got rid of those girlfriends faster, who used to talk much or force him to open up to them. Consequently, he hadn't needed to deal with such women in the past 5-6years. & now, there she was. Khushi might have been the most talkative person he had met in his entire life, in fact right at that moment, she was furiously muttering to herself, but to his own immense surprise, he was finding her incredibly adorable.

 

 

As he remembered her earlier attempts to get to know him & make things a bit normal between them, he felt a sudden surge of affection towards her, which he had only felt before for his own family members, & for her family members too, except for herself. & he could really appreciate how hard it must have been for her & how much courage it must have taken for her to come at him like that despite his repeated rebuffs. & seeing at how she couldn't help it either & seemed to blurt out whatever it was on her mind when they were in close proximity like this, he could really sympathize with her as he felt the exact same way. Letting out a long sigh at the hopeless circumstances, Arnav gave a brief squeeze to Khushi's hand in his grip & let it go immediately. Then he said in a soothing voice, "It's hard, I know. I keep blurting out these things too." Then he shrugged in a carefree manner, "But that's expected, you know? We already know, we affect each other... Physically."

 

 

& Arnav looked over at her in time to see her face flooding with profuse color, & he mentally cursed himself. Now he made her even more uncomfortable & there she was, only trying to make things normal between them. Arnav made a decision then & there. Maintaining distance from Khushi really wasn't going to work as given the close relationship between their families, they were bound to be thrown into each other's company, like today. & when they were in each other's company, sparks just tended to fly, in each & every direction. & none of them seemed to be able to do anything to control this weird thing. But she seemed to have a course of action in mind, with the 'get to know each other' & all, so for the first time in his life, Arnav Singh Raizada was going to let a girl take the steering wheel, & decide where & at what pace she wanted their association to progress.

 

 

Khushi gave a small start, when she heard him speaking next in a casual tone, "So, what did you wanna know? My favorite movie?... That's easy. The Godfather Trilogy." He nodded in an approving manner, as if to praise his own good taste. & Khushi just stared at him for 5 full seconds unblinkingly, because even when she had started her campaign of 'Knowing ASR', she hadn't really expected him to cooperate with her. Not really. Then she saw him looking over at her & then he hooked his left eyebrow up in a challenging manner, as if to say, 'now that I am following your lead, are you gonna back out?' & at that challenge in his eyes, Khushi squared her shoulders & stuck her chin out in a defying manner & said conversationally, "Figures. That's Bhaiya's favorite too." Arnav nodded his head, indicating he knew about that. Then Khushi inquired in an innocuously curious voice, "I don't understand, what's so great about it though! Doesn't it have a scene with a severed horse head in a bed?!" She added just the right amount of contempt in her voice.

 

 

Arnav looked at her disbelievingly, & exclaimed, "That's a classic scene, Khushi!" Khushi shook her head vehemently, "That's not classic! That's gory! Ewww!" She pouted her lower lip in a disgusted manner, which made her look so cute, that it was all Arnav could do to not to park the car sideways & then kiss her senseless. He chuckled slowly, & as the car entered the road that led to their locality, said, "Alright. Moving on. You're going to Shantivan with us, right?" Khushi looked uncertain as she said, "Maybe. I heard your Dadi came." Arnav looked at her with raised eyebrows, "So? Come & meet her! She's a bit strict... In fact, that's an understatement. She's overly strict. I remember, she's the only one beside Ma who ever used the stick on me." He sounded amused.

 

 

As soon as Khushi heard about the Dadi she was yet to meet, using a stick to beat him, she disliked the woman instantly. But today going to Shantivan was way more significant than just meeting Arnav's Dadi. Payal had told her that Akaash had told his Mom about Payal & himself last night & today was going to be a kind of 'meet the Mom' thing for them. & Khushi had to be there for her sister. She came out of her reverie, as she felt the car halting in front of the main door of her home. She turned in her seat to unbuckle the seat belt, but found it obstinately stuck to its place. She said in a frustrated manner as she struggled with the clasp, "I am sure, your seat-belt is faulty." But the next instant, she almost jumped a foot over her seat as Arnav's warm fingers closed over her fumbling ones, as he said curtly, "Nothing in my car is faulty, Khushi! I think, you just can't do anything properly!"

 

 

Khushi flashed him an annoyed look as she heard the faint click of the clasp unbuckling, & without saying anything she turned, & got out of the car. She was running up the stairs to the main door, when she heard him calling out to her through the open door of the passenger seat, "Khushi?" & as she turned, she saw it. His smirk. The left corner of his mouth lifted slightly up & his eyes twinkled like twin amber flames, as he said through his smirking lips, "Wear something traditional?" Then he again looked her up & down as she was rooted to her spot, & said through the smirking lips, "Preferably Pink!"

 

 

Khushi felt a warm, sunny smile breaking on her own lips. & although she knew it was foolish to smile like this & let him see her like this, all blushing & grinning, just because he had expressed the desire to see her in a particular attire & a particular color, but she just couldn't help it. She nodded at him, still smiling & then turning, ran in full speed inside the house.

 

 

As Khushi sped on up the stairs, on the landing of the first floor, she halted in her tracks. She had very little traditional outfit, & the ones she had, were primarily festive wear, as that was the only time she ever wore traditional. But those outfits were not suitable for now. It was a casual occasion, but with a hint of formality out of respect for the elders. & she had nothing traditional that fit the bill. But then she suddenly remembered something & ran towards Payal's room, instead of her own.

 

 

Upon entering Payal's room, she saw Payal was putting the finishing touches to her light makeup, wearing a bathrobe, while a beautiful pink Salwar suit lay on the bed. Khushi looked at it disbelievingly. It was as if it had materialized out of her imagination. & it was full-sleeved too! So it would hide the faint scars still present on the pale skin of her arms. Khushi hastily stepped forward & snatched the dress up in her arms, hugging it to her & said to Payal briefly, "I am wearing this!"

 

 

Payal looked at her in the mirror & immediately let out a gasp & turned with a shocked look. "Khushi, I am gonna wear that! & why would you wear a Salwar suit?!" She grabbed the lower part of the outfit & tugged at it to free it from Khushi's clutches. But Khushi just tugged it more forcefully, & said in a threatening voice, "Because I want to wear a Salwar suit. Jiji, give it!" She snatched the outfit out of Payal's grabbing hands in a quick pull & tried to hide it behind herself. Payal looked at her horrified, "Khushi, it took me hours to pick that one out! I have to meet Manorama Aunty today as the girl Akaash.. Akaash wants to marry. It's very important that I please her. Please don't act crazy this one day!! Give it back!" Payal looked very angry for once.

 

 

Khushi looked at her sister & then looked over at the dress in turns, literally torn. But then she heard someone whisper against her ears, "Wear something traditional? Preferably Pink!" & she instantly shrugged at Payal apologetically & said in a bashful voice, "Jiji, you have so many Salwar suits na? Wear one of them? It's a matter of life & death for me too!" & then she ran out of the room leaving a hurt & shocked Payal staring at the empty space where her sister & her dress had been mere seconds ago.

 

 

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Suddenly a high-pitched & cultured voice cut across the hushes & slightly stilted chatter of the room, "You're Damad ji's youngest sister?" Khushi tried to still her suddenly shaking fingers at the shock of being addressed like this & nodded. " Isn't she..? She the girl..??" Suddenly Payal spoke up in a calmly forceful voice, "She is our sister. The youngest in our family!" Dadi flashed her an annoyed look at being cut off, & said in a distracted manner, as if trying to remember something, "Don't interrupt when the elders are speaking! But.. This girl.. Isn't she the girl-?" But this time she was cut off by her own grandson, "This girl is called Khushi." The note of warning was clearly discernible in his voice.

 

 

He turned his eyes again in Khushi's direction & said, "My Dadi usually has flawless sense of right or wrong. But it has been quite a while since she had been socializing like this. & she doesn't really mean to offence anyone, but she just manages it anyway!" The last sentence was however directed at Payal who was looking so alarmed, as she hadn't looked even when Manorama was grilling her. But before Payal could answer him, Khushi looked at Arnav & said in a clear voice laced with anger, "Genes being what they are, I'd have been incredibly shocked if your Dadi had shown impeccable manner & thoughtfulness while talking to house guests!"

 

 

The atmosphere of silence that followed the gasps of shock & terror, caused by her remark, could be easily cut with a knife. Khushi couldn't even look at the horrified faces that stared at her, & then she felt her gaze pulled to the person she had made that jibe too. & as her eyes fell upon him, it was her turn to gasp, because as soon as she looked at Arnav Singh Raizada, he held her gaze steadily, his jaw resting on his left knuckles, & then the most amazing, the most heart-warming, the most unbelievably out-of-place lopsided smile broke out on his lips.