Chapter Five

[NOCOPY]

Chapter Five: In an Unknown Embrace

 

"When partners reveal their deepest, most vulnerable feelings, they create emotional intimacy."

~~ Anonymous ~~

 

November, 2012

 

"I'm getting married."

 

Arnav choked on a mouthful of water at the seamlessly harmless declaration of his cousin. He leaned back from the table, grabbing tissues that Aakash offered as he cleared his throat. He then looked around and settled his gaze on the cousin, who happened to be his best friend, the one person who saved his ass every time the family forced them to attend countless parties and satsangs throughout the four years of their Chemical Engineering. While Aakash continued with a master's degree in the same department and was now working as a chief Chemical Researcher, Arnav opted for business management, thus moving out from the family residence to two different flats across the city.

 

"Good joke, Aakash. Now, I'd like to go back to my sandwich." Arnav said with a shrug, taking a bite as he stared at his cousin. Seriously? What was wrong with everyone around him? First, it was one of his team-mates, three years his junior, applied for leave of absence for a week for his wedding and now, his cousin... "I'm sure you didn't call me to crake some stupid jokes."

 

Aakash groaned as he leaned in, banging his fist on the table that made Arnav roll his eyes at the impatience. "Why can't you, for once, focus on what I have to say Arnav? Sandwich can wait. It's not going to ditch you, you know."

 

"I can't ignore my only true love for some gossip worth page three, the kind Anjali is interested." Arnav said, taking another mouthful of bite, his actions deliberately stalling to rile his cousin up and smiled when Aakash shook his head vehemently.

 

"My fault, I told you." Aakash whined, loud enough to attract attention from a couple of young girls seated beside their table in timidly crowded caf. "I'm getting married to the woman I love, dude. Are you not excited?"

 

Arnav raised a brow with a smirk. "I'd be excited if that doesn't call the whole damn family for my wedding, dearest cousin. Not to mention, I'm elder by three f**king months. I'm going to have them on my back, irritating me with their never ending sentimental drama and lectures of why a man has to get married while you get to romance Payal. So no, Aakash Singh Raizada, I'm not excited."

 

Aakash sipped his coffee as the two cousins fell in companionable silence - the elder one munching onto his fifth sandwich, relishing it as the food lover that he was and the younger one trying to understand his brother who was as jovial as he had always been but something was amiss.

 

While Arnav was never a public person, keeping his emotions to himself, he was not a private one that kept his loved ones at an arm's distance. But as Aakash watched, he couldn't help but wonder about the moment that went wrong between them. Over the past five years, Arnav had become someone who was hard to understand, indulging into meaningless relationships and breaking their hearts at the end.

 

"You know, we used to be so close without any secrets." Aakash said with a wry smile. "I don't recognize you anymore, Chotey. Why are you pushing yourself so hard for a woman who doesn't deserve you?"

 

Immediately, his head snapped up with eyes cold and dangerous as Arnav glared at Aakash, throwing the sandwich back on the plate. "My way of living has nothing to do with Sheetal Kapoor." Arnav hissed under his breath, his voice low, filled with despise and loathing, so much that Aakash felt a shiver run down his spine as they stared at each other, one glaring and the other, helplessly.

 

"Arnav..." Aakash began, reaching out for his cousin's hand only to let out a deep sigh when Arnav retracted his hands from the table.

 

"If the motive behind this impromptu gathering is me and my past, then forget it, Aakash." Arnav pushed the plate away as he said with finality. "You're getting married, I get it. Let me know the wedding date and venue and you can expect me by your side. My best wishes for you and the woman you love."

 

Aakash swore under his breath as he watched Arnav rose from his chair. "You can't let one failed relationship snatch the happiness you deserve, Arnav."

 

"Exactly!" Arnav banged his fist on the table as he hissed back. "I can't let these relationships play with my emotions all over again, Aakash. Unlike you and our f**king family, I still remember the way the woman you all chose for me left me at the altar."

 

"It was a mistake we all regret..." Aakash began but slumped his shoulders dejectedly with Arnav glaring at him.

 

"I'm happy the way I lead my life. And I'll be grateful if you accept it and let it go, brother." Arnav said, his voice considerably low by the end as he let out a bitter chuckle.  "Now, if you excuse me, I think I'll go, meet my girlfriend."

 

There was a momentary pause followed by Arnav's declaration. "I didn't know you do girlfriend boyfriend thing." Aakash stated with a wry smile to which Arnav shrugged with a soft smile.

 

"I don't and she is different. No, not serious," Arnav added smoothly when he saw Aakash staring at him, wide eyed and a toothy grin, "but different."

 

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January, 2015

 

Her room was steeped in eerie silence as Khushi stared at the image of her with him, unable to process the information, with her hand clutching the mobile. There were many instances in the past days that she had tried to depict the happenings of her love life and suffocated at her twin's open hatred for the man in her life. But nothing could have ever prepared her for this moment, as she raised her head to look at the man, the realization of the man being her sister's brother-in-law, the person so close to her family and yet, their relationship was wrapped under the huge cover that was called as friendship was something that didn't make any sense.

 

How she longed to have this moment where she could meet the one person that held the key to the lost phase of her life! It was all she was able to think ever since she realized the chunk of her life missing with questions and no one to answer them, wishing that she could be blessed with someone, anyone, so that she would be able to understand her life better.

 

Her parents all but informed her that she had become rather private person ever since she realized her love for the man and stalled with million, silly reasons whenever they asked her to bring him home. Her sister had said that she loved the man who was not ready to commit to a serious relationship and her brother did not bother to hide his dislike for the man in her life. She had almost convinced herself that she would be wrong in choosing the man and that her brother might have seen through him for evoking such response. The fact that Aarav had always been sensible helped solidify the theory and yet, Khushi knew that she was never the kind to go against her instincts. And her instincts were something she trusted.

 

But the irony of her situation was not lost on her. As she stared at Arnav Singh Raizada, her sister's voice echoing in her mind just the way her brother's disapproval gaze flashed in front of her eyes, all she could focus was on the love in the pair of caramel orbs, the molten chocolate with golden flicks.

 

He was a handsome man. Even in the labyrinth that both her life and mind had become, Khushi realized the fact, the voice in her head clearer and softer than it had been ever since she opened her eyes in the hospital room with her hands clutched in his. She had spent most of the morning going through the wedding album and she knew this man, the pictures portrayed the blooming friendship between them throughout the ceremony. Standing at six feet two, chiseled face with sharp planes and angular features, broad shoulders and muscles beneath his formal attire - a pair of light colored plain shirts over a much darker denims and occasionally complimented by a jacket. There was an amiable smile that never diminished, lending a boyish grin and devilishly attractive.

 

But the man in front of her was anything but that. Gone was the friendliness that Khushi thought was his charm and instead, there was a lost and helplessness look that found its permanent residence in his eyes. The smooth, clean shaven face was not only hard but was covered with stubble that hadn't been taken care of for weeks now, making him look rugged and yet handsome in a dangerous way. Thick waves of overgrown, black hair falling over his forehead, covering his brows as he looked at her, his shoulders slumped and his hands falling loosely on his sides. Every inch of his body was alert, tuned to hers, moving flexibly, involuntarily and subconsciously whenever there was a slightest movement in her, his eyes refusing to blink as they watched her.

 

As if I'd disappear if he blinks...

 

Her head snapped at him as soon as the thought flashed in her mind. Khushi was taken aback at the careless, almost sarcastic comment she had passed on at a stranger, as much the stranger might be a part of her forgotten life. This was not her. To fall in love with someone who was reluctant to commit for a serious relationship and to hide the person from her own family. Suddenly, her brother's dislike for the man she loved became apparent and acceptable.

 

If he was the reason behind her changed behavior, if their relationship, be it friendship as her sister projected or the complicated love her brother hinted, turned her from her bubbly, open self into self-indulgent, secretive woman, then he deserved her brother's dislike and so much more.

 

"Who are you?"

 

The helplessness in her voice when she first spoke to him was replaced by anger as Khushi demanded him. Who was this man and what was their story? Was he the man with golden heart? Or was he the man with commitment issues? Khushi shut her eyes as she shook her head in order to push away the disturbing thoughts that seemed to be emerging within, proving him to be as mysterious as her life now was.

 

Who was he? She asked herself as she looked at him after a brief second. Was he her friend? Or was he her boyfriend? Someone she couldn't stay with? Or someone she shouldn't live with?

 

She watched him as Arnav inched the little distance between them, the warmth radiating from his body soothing her as he pulled her closer to him, putting his arm around her shoulder and the other arm sneaking around her waist, hugging her just as she jerked, her hands fisting the lapels of his shirt at his unexpected touch, too stunned to react to his actions.

 

"I can only tell what I think I'm to you." He whispered into her hair as he kissed the top of her head, his voice low and promising that was in contrast to what she had resolve seconds ago. "You're the only one to answer that. Not me. Not your brother. No one but you Khush."

 

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