Chapter 26

Was this what people referred to as the feeling of floating on clouds?

Was this what people referred to as the feeling of being on top of the world?

Was this what people referred to as the feeling of fireworks in your heart?

Was this what people referred to as the feeling of the best feeling ever?

Because if this was not all that, Khushi Gupta did not know what it was they were referring to.

It felt like firecrackers had gone off in her head and colourful sparkles had erupted before her eyes as the feelings of something soft like rose petals made a home for itself in her senses, flooding it with a headiness she had never experienced, not even when she had taken a leap from an airplane in California or even when she had gone deep sea diving in Gold Coast or even when she had toppled head first from a cliff in Rio or when she had pet a full grown lion in Cape Town.

This was nothing compared to all those stupendous experiences of her life.

This was a different ball game altogether.

This was a life changing experience in itself.

But all her thoughts came to an abrupt end as she felt the experience demanding more from her by way of his pressing his lips insistently against hers, coaxing her to forget everything and indulge herself in this kiss of a lifetime.

And she did.

She let her hands weave themselves around his neck, pulling him closer to herself, caressing the soft hair at the nape of his neck, downing his groan in herself as her lips moved against his.

In this kiss with a man she had loved for so long.

In this kiss with a man who it seemed loved her too.

Wait.

What?

And all of a sudden, in a move that surprised even herself, she had pushed him away.

*****

This was what people were referring to when they talked of feeling like they were floating on the clouds.

This was what people were referring to when they talked of feeling like they were at the top of the world.

This was what people were referring to when they talked of feeling like there were fireworks in your heart.

This was what people were referring to when they talked of feeling the best feeling ever.

Because if this wasn't what they were referring to, they were f**king crazy and did not deserve his time of the day.

Was all Arnav could think about, lucidly that is, because it was not possible for him to have any more lucid thoughts once he felt the soft pressure of Khushi's lips against his as she responded to the surprise kiss he had bestowed on her.

He had not been thinking when he had acted upon the most basic instinct he had ever felt in his life - to kiss Khushi.

She had been talking of how he never came pursued her and how she could never find the courage to approach him and how she hoped that all things of the past would no longer trouble them and that they could both overlook it all and be best friends again and something had snapped within him.

He did not want to be just her best friend.

And he sure as hell did not want to forget all that was in the past.

Not when he felt for the way she had felt for him back then and hopefully did even today.

And he was not Khushi.

He would not stand back and let things take their own course.

He would sure as hell not let things take their own course when they had such a royal history of screw ups.

He would not feel in half anything.

And he would not let her feel in half anything if there was at all a chance that she was feeling anything at all.

Not when he could make it complete - for her and for him.

And so he had taken the plunge and acted upon the instinct everything inside his body screamed for him to act upon.

Kiss her.

And boy was he glad he did!

Because this was not an experience to miss.

This was not an experience that he would ever have again.

The experience of his first kiss with her.

His childhood companion, his best friend, his soul mate, his first love.

It was life changing and he had no qualms in admitting that, not when she moved against him the way she did, not when he felt her nimble fingers run through his hair, not when he felt them clasp behind his neck as she pulled him closer and he could do nothing else but oblige to all her requests, groaning in pleasure as she pressed her lips against his giving in to his insistence and downing his groan in herself.

And just when he was about to nibble on the plump roundness of her lips, he felt those same hands which had been locked just a few seconds back around his neck push hard against his chest and he toppled back, his passion ridden eyes opening up in shock only to be locked by her confused ones.

And in that moment it hit Arnav.

She did not know that he loved her back.

Or rather she did and she could not believe it.

And Arnav felt his heart break as her doe shaped eyes filled with tears of confusion and mixed feelings and he felt himself step forward and take her in his arms, even when she fought against him only to quiet down as he tightened his arms around her, his thumb gently stroking her tension wrought back, the other stroking the side of her stomach as he comforted her without words, trying to dispel her fears and her confusion and allay to her mixed feelings.

But it seemed that sometimes nothing could substitute words as she once again started squirming in his hold, her hands trying to force herself out of his embrace by way of the pressure she exerted against his chest and he let her push him once away, intent on making her feel in control and comfortable with the changed equation between them but nowhere did he back down, staring right into her eyes - his feelings for her naked in them.

And he was awarded with the rising of colour in her cheeks as she took cognizance of his feelings, feeling at peace that his emotions had reached across to her.

Finally his emotions had reached across to her as he felt the flicker of recognition in her eyes before they widened with disbelief and her swollen lips deliciously rounded as it clicked inside her what exactly was the meaning of all that had happened over the past few minutes.

A deep yearning took root in his heart as he witnessed the after effects of their kiss on her and it dawned on him that she was just as affected as she was by it. Her lips were swollen just like he could feel his to be plumper. Her lipstick was smudged and he was sure of the fact that his lips sported her colour. Her eyes were confused but there was a passion in them which he knew was mirrored in his and her cheeks were stained red just like he knew his was and Arnav could not help as a bashful smile threatened to break across his features just as his heart threatened to overflow with feelings for the amazing woman in front of him and at that moment he knew that this was the moment for him and this woman was the woman for him and that there would never be any other moment or woman for him. Ever.

He had never imagined that he would one day be involved in a situation so filmy and that too with Miss. Khu Gu of all people!

But what he had also never imagined was how much at peace he would be and how thrilled he would be to be in such a filmy situation with Miss. Khu Gu of all people!

But what he knew best at that moment, clearest at that moment that he would not exchange this moment in time with any thing else in the entire world.

He loved Miss. Khu Gu and it was time she knew that - and not just by the jubilant smile on his face which announced what he was feeling loud and clear but with words which were uttered without a moment's hesitation, his heart soaring as her eyes shone with emotion at them.

"What you felt for me Khu then is what I feel for you now and what I have been feeling for you since who knows when...if you could look past everything that I did and said, all the times I did not realize that what I felt for you had long crossed the boundary of a lost friendship...if you can let go of all of that and let me be by your side as your best friend and as your companion, I would be honoured. But even if you say No' tonight, know that I will not be going anywhere. I will remain your best friend and keep trying to become your companion if you will have me. I love you, Khushi. I love you - as a best friend and as someone much more than that."

Next Chapter - Page 86

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*Not proof read

So...whoever wants to throw stuff at me, just remember this - I still have to update the next chapter! So no violence please...also as one reader pointed out - at least yeh ek positive (at least on the face of it cos you never know ;) :D) cliffhanger hai! :D

Would love to know your feedback to this chapter and a big thanks for all the love bestowed on the last chapter! The reactions were awesome! :D

Also a very special thanks to a very special friend for helping me out with this chapter and listening to me go completely crazy but still maintaining her sanity! :p

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