Chapter 1

She knew she had been trapped in the building for hours now. It hadn't stopped raining and the lightning and thunder just made it worse. Khushi had always loved rain, and the sense of calmness it gave her.. But the last two experiences in the rain had been horrendous. And if she had to attribute it to something, it was just one name that came to her mind-Arnav Singh Raizada the monster or the rakshaas who had changed  her life so  drastically in the last few days that she didn't know what to do about it. She knew at the back of her mind, that she would perhaps never be able to sever this part from her life ever. Why did she feel so, she didn't know, but the thought set her heart racing' "I will never forgive you' she uttered"' as another support gave away almost crashing in front of her'

In a flash, he appeared out of no-where, did he arrive on a horse like those dreamy heroes, or in a chopper like he did the first time she ever felt his presence, she didn't know' but he was there in front of her. And his presence for that moment, to her surprise soothed her. Before she knew, she was in his arms, feeling tipsy headed, yet at peace since she was so close to his heart. "Neeche utaariye hume" she uttered in her mind, but couldn't somehow bring it to her lips ... and then it all blanked out'  What followed was a series of unconnected events, of her yelling at him, him pinning her against the wall, him hurting her hand, breaking her bangle and injuring her in the process'.

"Devi Maiyya" she muttered in her sleep, as she felt her eyes open slowly ' only to realise she was lying comfortably tucked in her bed.

Gosh she had been dreaming again, and he had been a central part of her imagination. She didn't like it, since her heart was fluttering like a bird, and she didn't want to wake up with this feeling of an awkward uneasiness. She turned to the other side, trying to get some more sleep, as another set events appeared before her, his angry eyes looking into hers, him letting go of her hand as soon as a tear droplet fell on his rock hard fist, and him driving, carrying her into the house, and perhaps her sister yelling at the man?!!

No way thought Khushi in her sleep '. Making faces as she turned to the other side restlessly ' Why would Arnav Singh Raizada come to her house? Why would he drop her home? Why would he save her in the first place ???' she slightly opened her eyes feeling heavy in the head, and looked at the place where she had  cut her arm, and was shocked to see a plaster on it' She sat up in a jiffy, trying to figure out what had happened. Her heart went out to his sisters tear stained face' Payal had fallen asleep sitting next to the bed. She had perhaps not slept all night. Khushi stroked her sister's face, waking Payal up in the process'

The sisters hugged, shedding a few tears as they exchanged well being. As she hugged her sister, thoughts of the earlier night, became clearer, as she realised Arnav had actually come to save her, and she had given him a piece of her mind, but what her really stuck in her head was his silence, for the first time ever. He hadn't reacted at first to her outburst, and the way he seemed to look into her eyes even though he had applied force on her, only shook the insides of her.

Payal had been talking for a while now, without realising Khushi hadn't been paying attention '. "Aur humne unhey keh dia, ke tum ab nahi  jaaogi '.." '..

It was only when buaji walked in with a glass of hot milk and a plate of jalebis that, Khushi realised, all that happened the earlier night, after she had almost blanked out was true. So he was there. He had dropped her. She had felt his presence close to her, and around her, and it was all true.

"Hume tayar hona hai jeeji, ab hum theek hai ' " said Khushi getting out  of her bed'.

"Kono jaroorat nahi hai '." Said bua authoritatively '. " ee liyo  '  nashta karlo '. Aur aaj se  ' tumka jaane ki jaroorat nahi hai 'agar koi ooch neench ho jaati toh,tumre amma babuji ko kaa jawab dete hum nandakisor  '"

"Haan Khushi, kyun jaana  chahti ho waapis tum wahan' aur waise bhi aur 10 din hi toh bache hai ..hum nahi chahte tum fir se uss Arnav Singh Raizada se koi panga lo '

"Jeeji" says Khushi reassuringly, aisi koi baat nahi hai, kal hum Arnav Singh Raizada ke wajah se nahi fase the, balki unhone ne toh hume bachaya hai, hum kaam karne gaye they, aur uss building ki neev itni kamzor thi, ke hum phas gaye wahan '.

Payal looks at Khushi not so convinced.

"Aur ab hume der ho rahi hai '' hum bilkul theek hai, hume der  se nahi jaana kaam pe.. aur ghabrayiye mat, jab tak Devi Maiyya humare saath hai, humare saath kuch bura nahi ho sakta '"

A while later, as Khushi is braiding her hair, getting ready for work, she thinks of all that she had said to her sister and is amused at  how she had justified the acts of this monster, and had gone on to lie to her sister. She was feeling guilty.

As she prayed in front of Devi Maiyya before leaving, she atleast told her Devi Maiyya what was playing on her mind. She knew she was doing this for as reason. If she would not do this, her family would not let her go to work and this is would mean, she would lose the challenge. She knew, Arnav had been trying to put all these difficulties in front of her so that she would break, and he had stooped to the level of even looping her family into the entire picture. She would not let him win. After all it was a question of her principles and she did want the Laad Governor to know, twisting things to get an outcome, wouldn't always be a successful game plan.

As opposed to Khushi, who had perhaps slept fairly well, Arnav had, had a pretty rough night. Her eyes, her words, her flying hair, and helplessly innocent baby face kept coming in front of his eyes. He had tried running the treadmill with force to wear the effect off, but it hadn't helped. He had taken a walk in his garden to spend some time around his plants but today even that didn't seem to help. He had sat all night amidst the plants, but all he could think of was the time she had followed him there with the assignment the earlier day. The way she was almost about to lose grip and fall, and both of them had balanced one another. Had he really been too harsh on her? Was he wrong  for once? This thought had been plaguing him all night. Arnav Singh Raizada had twisted things to his gain, but whenever he had done that in the past, he always knew he had been right. But this time, had he gone over-board? The way she had invaded into his thoughts, and ruined him off his sleep and peace of mind, Arnav knew, he wouldn't find a solution sitting at home.

The more I sit here the the more I think of her. I don't think she would come today anyway, especially after all that happened to her last night. Chalo accha hai .. he tells himself ' bechari thoda Aaaram kar legi ' and then he smiles a little , as he thinks of her cherubic face the earlier night, and how he had pushed a strand off it, and wiped her tears '

He halts the thoughts and goes off to get ready.

When he reaches office he is in for a shock,  as he see's Khushi is already there. Laughing and chatting away with the canteen owner.  He sees her happy, and wants to walk up to her, but stops himself. What would he say to her? That he is sorry? He takes a step forward and stops, and realises he perhaps shouldn't, as she looked happy' he didn't want to ruin it for her. He walks off to his cabin.

What follows during the rest of the day, doesn't help Arnav at all. Khushi seems unaffected by the earlier night. The report of the building is lying on his table. His coffee has been arranged. He looks down from his cabin and see's Khushi working. The model whose measurements she had earlier taken comes there to the office. He stops by, at Khushi's table, and Arnav is amused at the little bhai-behen conversation they have. She had turned this man into her brother? He smiles a little before straightening his face, for Lavanya who has entered the room.

La is worried after the earlier night.

ASR, aap kahan chaley gaye the, aapke ghar se call aaya tha  'kal raat aap kahan gaye the''

ASR is only silent, as the mention of the earlier night only reminds him of things he doesn't want to think of. Lavanya is annoyed at his silence, but she goes forward to hug him and assure him it's alright, cos she presumes it's the events that happened the earlier day, concerning them that would bother him '

"Main humare rishte ke liye kuch bhi kar sakti hoon" says La, still hugging him, as Khushi knocks at  their door '

There is an exchange of looks between the two, as Khushi instantly looks down since she has once more walked in on them '

Arnav pushes La away instantly '.

"I am sorry maam, and sir, hum baad main aa jayenge '."

Arnav's heart surprises him, by causing a heavy sinking feeling, as she walks away, as though wanting to stop her.

"Could you please leave me alone for a while " he tells Lavanya visibly disturbed'.

La" awww' ASR, tum humare iss rishtey ko leke '.

Lavanya !! He yells '. Shocking everyone else in the office'. "everything is not about you' now if you could please '." He says without caring, leaving poor La in tears as she walks away from there.

As she leaves Arnav bangs his fist against the table in anger and picks up his phone to make a call.

"Miss Gupta, please come into my cabin now"

In less than a minute Khushi is standing in front of Arnav, who is looking into his laptop, not making eye contact'

Khushi is as cool as a cucumber, as she says, kahiye sir '.

"Mujhe uss construction company ko sue karna hai .. jinke waha se kal raat .. he starts' and then looks away from her and cuts it short by saying' ' "note down karo '. As I dictate ' "

And then he pauses, as though waiting for her to take out her phone to record it, but he see's she is already at work. She is already equipped and this annoys him more.  He dictates what he has to, reading it out slowly this time. Khushi doesn't react. As he dictates he can't meet her eyes, as she is sincerely writing everything down. He is so lost in his own world while dictating that he starts walking backwards, mumbling words to himself, almost proceeding towards the edge of the wall. You think ASR would be the one to fall this time, when a hand strongly grips him, before he loses balance, and pulls him by forcing hence landing both of them towards the other side of the room. Once again, she is standing against the wall, and he is gripping her hand, this time with lesser force perhaps as though he would be the one to melt away. A powerful eye lock happens, and it looks like Arnav seems to like the idea of having her around him at this proximity. Her big eyes always seem to say things to him, and he wanted to answer her back.

As the entire office stares on in shock, Khushi looks at Arnav  snaps out and gently pushes him away  softly this time, and walks away saying " yeh hum aapko adhey ghante main type karwaake de denge" sticking a thousand daggers into Arnavs heart.

 

Love,

Niha

-honeydew-2011-07-13 02:11:21