Chapter 5
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[MEMBERSONLY]
Hi
everyone,
Thanks for all your wonderful comments.
Ideally this was supposed to go with the previous update. But thought it will
be too long. So I made it slightly longer 
Little more clarification and an
ultimatum. Read on to find out.
Desert Rose ' Chapter 4
KHUSHI
found herself all alone with ASR ----Arnav
Singh Raizada. She stared at his grim face and her heart beat began to increase.
'I thought you were Akashji and you
thought I was Payal,' she ventured tentatively, 'We got off on the wrong foot
right from the beginning.'
'Looks like it.' he said grimly.
'When you said you were ASR, I assumed
'A' stood for Akash,' she explained, 'But I don't understand your confusion. I had
told you my name.'
He shrugged, 'I was only aware of that the
surname was Gupta.' He looked at her, 'I wasn't sure of the first name.'
Khushi said quietly, 'I am sorry for
all the things I said to you earlier. It's just that I was so upset for Payal.'
'You did it for your sister,' he
returned flatly, 'I don't blame you for that. I would have done the same.'
'Was Akash badly hurt in the accident?'
she asked in a low voice.
'He has fractured his leg and has a
concussion in his head. He will heal with time and plenty of rest.'
'Thank God it isn't too bad.' Khushi
said relived. 'That is why he didn't come to Delhi. I wish someone had informed
us. Payal will be relieved when she hears about this.'
She looked at Arnav but he said
nothing.
'I will go back to the hotel now.'
Khushi said trying to get up.
'Like this?' he said looking directly
at her.
Khushi realized he was looking at her
torn clothes and flushed a deep red.
'I will take you to Di's room now.' He
said curtly.
As Khushi got up from the sofa and took
one step, she faltered as blackness enveloped her. She flopped down on the sofa
holding her head.
'What the ____?' he swore.
'I am alright'.. just a head rush.' Khushi
said weakly.
Arnav swore as she strode up to her
angrily. He bent down and scooped her up in his arms in one swift movement. He
began to walk toward the ornate staircase.
'What the hell are you doing?' Khushi
gasped furiously. She tried to push at his chest, but it was like trying to
budge a brick wall. But definitely a warmer one. A jolt of awareness shot
through her as she felt his heart beating under her fingers.
'Put me down right away!' she said
breathlessly.
'Shut up.' He snapped back.
Khushi realized that he was carrying
her up without breaking a sweat. Thought she was slim she was no feather
weight. All those gym workouts were coming in handy today no doubt, she thought
to herself.
He took her to a room presumably his
sister's. It was large, bright room matching the dcor downstairs. Ornate
furniture, ethnic artefacts and bright coloured drapes gave the room a rich,
royal look. Anjali was nowhere to be seen and Arnav seemed annoyed as he
deposited her none too gently on the edge of the big bed.
He went to the cupboard. 'My sister
only seems to have sarees,' he said as he pulled out a saree and threw it on
the bed.
'I will see you downstairs,' he said
moving toward the door.
Just as Khushi began to take off her
kurti, she realized that it was not going to be easy. It hurt like hell to lift
her arms above her shoulder.
Suddenly, she realized that Arnav had
walked up behind her. She should have locked the door! In one swift movement he
caught hold of her kurti at her back and ripped it down its length to the hem.
'Oh!' Khushi yelled turning around to
hide her exposed back, as a wave of embarrassment engulfed her from top to toe.
'How dare you?'
'There was no question of daring,' he sounded
bored. 'I heard you wincing with pain and thought I should help you. There was
no way you were going to be able to take off that kurti over your head.'
'But '..you'you'' she stuttered.
'Just relax.' He said softly. A faint
smile twisted the corners of the firm mouth.' I run a fashion house. I have seen
half naked girls. It's no big deal.'
'But it's a big deal for me!' she
exclaimed horrified of his nonchalance. 'Just go.'
'I will wait for you downstairs,' he
said amused. 'He walked up to the door and paused, looking back at her, the
smile deepening with disturbing mockery. He said, 'I am glad Manav said you
won't be scarred,' he said looking at her, his gaze burning holes into her.
'You have a beautiful body.' He shut the door behind him.
Khushi stood looking at the closed
door, her mouth open in shock, as a hot flush swept her from head to toe. No
one had ever treated her like this
before --- never been made to feel so vulnerable --- so frighteningly aware of
her femininity.
Arnav Singh Raizada wasn't just a
powerful and an attractive man, she decided grimly. He was dangerous in all
kinds of ways she'd never imagined.
Just when she thought that he was being
nice to her, he had reversed all that with that parting shot of his. From now on, she would be extra-careful in any
dealings she had with him, she thought as she struggled to drape herself in the
damningly beautiful saree.
It was a typical rajasthani bandhej
saree in rani pink with copper sulphate blue border and pallu. She had thought
of looking for a simpler one and had stopped herself for some reason unknown to
her. Was it because he had picked out
the saree for her? Hey DeviMaiyya!
She stepped into the attached bathroom.
It was clad in light coloured tiles, with modern amenities like a bathtub, a shower
panel and a wash basin. Looking in the mirror, Khushi realized for the first
time that her face was smeared with dirt form her fall, and her hair was
tangled and dusty.
She took off her glasses, washed
swiftly and dragged a comb through her long dark hair. For a moment she was
tempted to leave it loose. It would make her look more appealing --- more
relaxed, she thought, lifting some of the heavy strands in her fingers.
She stopped right there. What on earth was
she thinking of? She wasn't there to relax, or make any kind of impression '
particularly on someone like Arnav Singh Raizada, she thought with
self-disgust. She pulled her hair back severely, securing it savagely into a
bun. She then fastened the front bangs away from her face with clips and put on
her glasses.
Arnav stood outside the gates checking
the damage to the car. What had made him say those things to her? He hadn't been
kidding when he had told her that he had seen many naked women. But what he hadn't
told her was that he had never once felt the way he did when he had seen her exposed
back. The small glimpse he had had of her smooth milky skin from the neck to
the base of her spine had made him hard with want. There was something about her. He stemmed that
thought immediately. She was trouble. He
had to get rid of her. As soon as
possible.
Khushi came out to the hall way and
stood looking around her. She realized that she had taken wrong turn and
ventured into another part of the huge house. She would never get her fill of
this beautiful haveli, she thought. She saw another painting of an elderly
couple. The man in the picture looked like a king as he stood proud and regal with
a hand on his sword. The woman, probably his wife, stood by his side, in all
her finery a small smile playing on her lips. They were probably one of the ancestors
of the Raizadas. There was so much warmth and colour in painting that it was difficult
for Khushi to imagine that Arnav Singh Raizada, in his blue jeans and white
t-shirt and his "What the" was even
remotely related to these people in the painting. But there was no mistaking the
relation as he had inherited his ancestor's eyes. Disturbing, intense eyes.
But she had rather imagine him as Laad
Governor, she thought smiling to herself and then froze.Why was she even imagining him?
Then she saw Anjali and Dr Manav coming
out of a room, deep in discussion. That must be Akashji's room, she realized,
with trepidation. Akashji, whom she had never even seen.
Impulsively, Khushi knocked on the door
to Akash's room and waited, her heart beating in anticipation.
'Come in.' said a man's weary voice
from the inside.
Khushi pushed open the door and saw a
man sitting up on the bed. She was sure it was Akash as the family resemblance
was quite obvious. He looked a little pale and his leg was in a cast.
'Akashji?' she said quietly.
'Who are you ?' he demanded.
'I am Khushi --- Payal's sister.' She
smiled at him. 'We came from Delhi today to look for you.'
He went on staring at her, his brows
drawing together in surprize. 'I don't understand,' he said. 'What do you
want?'
'I have come here with Payal,' she said
anxiously, 'She must have mentioned me.'
He shook his head, his face reflecting
his confusion. 'I don't know any Payal.'
Khushi began to panic. 'Of course you
do.' She tried to jog his memory. 'You met her in Jaipur at a wedding, and you
were planning to come to Delhi to meet her.'
'I don't know what you are talking
about.' His voice rose.
As Khushi hesitated, not sure how to
proceed, the door behind her was flung open, and she heard Arnav Singh
Raizada's angry voice, 'You have some nerve, Khushi Kumari Gupta! How dare you trespass and disturb my brother?'
He took her uninjured arm in firm grip
and dragged her out of the room.
Khushi tried to disengage herself but
she was not match for his strength as he hustled her toward the stairs.
'I am sorry for intruding,' she said.
'But I did come here to see Akashji.'
'It is my house and you cannot meet
anyone without my permission.'
Khushi lifted her chin defiantly, 'And,
would you have given me permission if I had asked you?'
'No,' he said curtly, 'I only hope your
interference hasn't caused any harm.'
'How can a few words from me cause him
any harm? She asked him angrily. 'I thought Akashji might be happy to hear that
Payal is here.'
'Was he?'
'No.' Khushi found herself being
dragged out of the house, with no chance of talking to Anjaliji or Dr Manav.
'He seemed ---- confused.'
Arnav angrily dumped her into the
passenger seat of an open jeep. Her bag was already kept on the seat.
'Akash is ill right now and I don't
want anyone to interfere in his recovery,' Arnav said as he started the engine.
Khushi sighed. 'I wasn't even trying to
'' all I wanted to do was to say --- hello.'
'Now that you done it,' he said
dismissively, 'let's put an end to this.'
How can this be the end, thought Khushi
as the jeep went down the drive.
Near the gate, Khushi spotted the scooter,
'What am I going to do about that?' she wondered aloud.
'You are not going to do anything. I
checked the vehicle and it seemed to be in a very bad condition even before the
accident. Where did you get it?'
'From a man called Guman at the hotel
Sagar where I am staying at.' Khushi explained.
He frowned when he heard that. 'That scum
bag!' He hit the steering with an exasperated fist. 'He does this to
unsuspecting tourists all the time --- in spite of warnings.'
'I will have to find an alternative
next time.'
'You plan to stay?' he asked her grimly.
'Of course,' said Khushi. 'Payal will
want to come and spend some time with Akashji, and I will do some sightseeing
here.'
'I don't think that is possible.' He
said quietly.
'What do you mean?' Khushi suddenly
felt very cold.
'It would be better if you go back to
Delhi, and take your sister with you.'
She said softly, 'You mean while
Akashji recovers. But he isn't that badly hurt, and moreover Payal will want to
come and take care of him.'
'That will not be necessary.' Arnav
looked grim as he concentrated on the road ahead.
'That's not for you to say.' Khushi
retorted. 'Let them decide what they want to do. I think you have forgotten
that Akashji has promised to marry Payal.'
'But I have not agreed to any such
thing,' he said harshly, 'And I think you are the one that is forgetting. We
may have solved the problem of mistaken identities, but nothing else has
changed, believe me.'
'What do you mean?' she seemed to be
repeating this a lot with this cryptic person she was dealing with.
'I told you earlier. I don't accept
that your sister or her unborn child has any claim on my family. A girl who is
free with her favours before marriage should accept the consequences,' he added
damningly.
Khushi flushed hot with anger, 'What
about Akashji? Isn't he also at fault here?' Khushi drew a deep breath. 'Are
rules different for men and women?'
'Akash is young,' he said flatly. 'I
will not allow him to ruin his future for one foolish mistake.'
'And what about Payal's future?' she
demanded exasperated.
'She seems to be quiet clever,' he said
his tone flippant. 'I am sure she will
manage.'
'I can't believe you just said that.
You haven't even met her for God's sake!' Khushi's heart was hammering sickly
and painfully. 'They are in love.'
His mouth twisted cynically, 'People
fall in and out of love all the time.'
Maybe for Akash, thought Khushi feeling
sick of him and all the Raizada males at this moment. But not sweet Payal. She
had already given herself heart, body and soul to Akash. This would just scar
her for life.
She drew an unsteady breath. 'Has
Akashji no say in this matter?'
He paused. 'He knows he has made a
mistake,' he said. 'I am the head of the family and ultimately he will do as he
is told.'
'How autocratic!' she said
emphatically.
'This is how it works in our families
Khushi,' he retorted, 'I have plans for him and they don't include your
sister.'
'You are arranging a marriage for him?'
She had been afraid of this.
'The girl will be from family equal to
our status, culture and lineage.' He looked like he was cast in stone as he
continued. 'Akash belongs to wealthy family. I won't let him throw away
everything for the first pretty face that caught his fancy.'
'So it all finally comes down to
money.' Khushi said bitterly. 'If Payal was rich it would be a different
story.'
'I didn't say that.' He cut in.
'Akash's wife should, firstly, be a decent woman.'
'I think you are forgetting that Payal
was decent until she met your
brother. People in love don't always behave sensibly. Haven't you ever given
your heart to anyone Arnavji? Or did your mind come in the way and tell you not
to waste time on that emotion?'
'You are stepping out of your limits
here.' His voice was ice. 'And it's not my emotions you should be worrying
about.'
'But they must meet Arnavji --- to talk
about the baby. You can't stop them from seeing each other for that.' Khushi
said desperately.
'Don't tell me what I can and cannot
do,' he rasped out harshly, 'This matter is closed. Go back to Delhi.'
'Not until Payal has seen Akashji,' she
flung back at him. 'You have no right to keep them apart in this high handed
way. You seem to have forgotten that days of autocracy have been long gone,'
she added angrily.
The first few buildings of Bikaner
began to emerge in the fading light as the sun began to set.
'We will not discuss my rights here,' Arnav
said coldly, 'Akash doesn't want to see your sister. In fact he doesn't even
remember her.'
'I don't believe that.' Her voice
shook. 'You just don't want them to meet. You don't want to lose your control
over Akashji ---- or let him lead his own life.'
'They could meet a dozen times, I
promise you, and it would make no difference.' Arnav Singh Raizada swung the
jeep into the lane and brought it to an abrupt halt outside the hotel.
'Why should I care for your promise ---
or anything you say, for the matter of fact?' Khushi found the passenger door
being wrenched open, and herself being dragged down to the narrow pavement.
'Because that bump on the head has
given Akash amnesia, Khushi.' His hands were hard on her upper arms as he held
her against the jeep. His eyes glittered down at her. 'He remembers nothing and
no one before the accident. Are you satisfied now?'
'Hey Devi Maiyya!' Khushi lifted a
distressed hand to her mouth, her eyes enormous suddenly. 'What are we going to
do?'
'You are not going to do anything,' he rasped.
'He has a family who will take care of him and nurse him back to health.'
'That's what you think.' Khushi eyes flashed
with determination. 'I will not allow you to dismiss Payal from his life like
this!'
'What the f***!' he swore angrily.
'What do you mean you won't allow me?
Who do you think you are? I have been patient with you for a long time and
____'
'I don't give a damn for your patience
Mr Arnav Sing Raizada,' she flung back.
His hands left her shoulders, and he
jerked her towards him, twisting her good arm behind her back with one hand as
the other hand grabbed her bare waist exposed by her saree. He stared down at
her lips even as his eyes glittered like dark orbs. Khushi looked at him in
shock, but as she began to struggle she realized her efforts only managed to
bring him closer.
Her breasts were crushed achingly
against his chest. She recognized the taut muscularity of the body pressed
against hers with every fibre of her being ' as if she had always known in some
secret recess of her soul exactly what it would like to be in Arnav Singh
Raizada's arms. He bent his head, his lips just inches away from hers. She had
a flash of an elusive memory of a long ago time''.
'Don't mess with me Khushi Kumari Gupta
--- if you know what is good for you.' he rasped harshly.
Then with the same suddenness she was
free. He was breathing unevenly, the dark gaze that burned into hers, hot and
relentless as the Thar.
He swung himself lithely back into the
Jeep, and drove off, leaving her staring after him, her hand pressed in
disbelief to her heart, beating its erratic dhak-dhak.
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