Part 11

Every girl wishes the man of her dreams look at her as if she is the epitome of perfection. As if she is all he needs to live. As if she hung the stars and moon in the sky!

And yet, when Arnav looked at her in that way last evening, Khushi didn't feel entirely excited. In fact, she felt hesitant to claim that attention.

Her attraction and admiration for Arnav went back as back as her memory could. He was the first face she had seen in the hospital when she opened her eyes. And then over the past 3 years, he had been a mysterious presence in her life, someone who visited after long gaps but each visit leaving her more captivated. And when he was not here in person, even in his absence, his presence seemed to linger around her, drawing her in. She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment she began to feel this pull towards him; the when and the how's of it. The reason could be his confident demeanor, his charming looks, his soulful eyes that focused on her with an aim to hypnotize her, his deep voice that brushed against her ears like the gentle touch of soft velvet, or his impressive business acumen that the world applauded. Whatever the reason was, she had come to idolize him. She wasn't even sure if that was love or just attraction.

Besides, all that was fine as long as it was only limited to feelings from her side. She had sadly but certainly made peace with the fact that he was not hers and could not be.

However, with the way he behaved with her last night and then with this new information that he and his wife were separated, she suddenly looked at the possibility that her long held wish could come true.

And she was not sure how to deal with it. What did Arnav have on his mind? Why was he coming so close to her last night? And if she didn't stop him, would he- she wasn't sure she was comfortable with that idea yet. Especially when he had not even talked to her about his feelings, or his marriage. He had not tried to find out what she wanted or was she ok with it. Heck, they had just started to know each other. And he- he suddenly tried to- how could he? Why did he? Even if he was separated from his wife, Khushi wasn't sure she wanted to come between a complicated relationship...

She looked at devi maiyya idol for help. Where should she go from here?

And as if in an answer, her phone beeped with an incoming message. She picked it and smiled as she saw it was her friend from college reminding her about tomorrow's dance rehearsal. They had an important dance event coming up in the next few weeks and their performance was also going to give them grades that would be counted in final semester results. So, Khushi and her friends had been giving their all for this event.

This was her answer. To focus on that one thing that had been constantly with her in these years. Her passion. Her dance.

Her complicated feelings for an enigmatic handsome businessman had to take a back seat...

.

.

When Arnav came to Delhi 2 weeks ago, his intention was clear, he was here to attend his Di's engagement, and then leave. Or at least that is what he wanted to believe. Seeing Khushi in-person, living, breathing, smiling in front of his eyes may or may not have been the main motive behind his trip... and when he told Kashish that he doesn't want khushi to remember him, he was sure he meant exactly that. His and khushi's past was too complex, too troubled for her to remember it. He had given her a new life and he was happy that she was living that life. He did not want her to ever know who he to her was.

But as he had come to know, destiny existed and it always had other plans.

His stay here kept getting extended, first on Khushi's request to stay till the party she was hosting and then due to shyam's escape. And Arnav suddenly found himself breaking his own vow. He no longer wished for khushi to not know their relationship, but he wished for her to know him, to accept him and to give him a chance to love her the way he should have 3 years ago. He wanted to get that chance to make her feel special, to make her know that she was the one and only woman in Arnav Singh Raizada's life and then have her love him the same way...

Was he being selfish?

He was not sure.

But one thing he was sure of was, he could not go off impulses like he did 3 years ago, he needed to be patient, take baby steps around her if he wanted to win her trust and then her love. Maybe this was just like business, where you could spin around a project that had incurred losses earlier but with another chance along with his sheer brilliance and hard work he could make a marvelous success story out of it. Sure, his business-related intellect was useless here, but he could still use his sharpness and of course, hard work he could do.

And that is why he agreed to go with Anjali's idea. To start taking Khushi to AR, where he could get more chances to be around her and win her confidence. In fact, it had an added advantage that this way, he could even ensure her safety by being in front of his eyes for the entire day.

But before that, he had to talk to Khushi and ensure that she was ok.

--*--

To his dismay, throughout that day, Arnav observed Khushi being awkward around him. In fact, he sensed she was even trying to avoid him. She was not meeting his eyes which was making him feel frustrated. He couldn't let it continue. Yes, he understood his behavior from last night was sudden and unexpected for her. And when Kashish told him about how Khushi had asked to speak to his wife, he understood Khushi's reason for denial as well. She must have been confused by his move last night. So, it was only right that he clears the air.

Sure, Kashish telling her about his so-called relationship status or Anjali helping him with bringing her to AR might help but some things he had to do himself.

Like addressing what had happened between them last night. Or rather, what did not happen...

As the rest of the Raizadas busied themselves with their evening routines, Arnav decided it was time to confront the situation.

He stood in front of her room and knocked on the door softly. He could guess she was perhaps practicing her dance as some upbeat music was audible from inside.

He waited for a few minutes but when there was no response, he knocked again, stronger this time. This time, the music stopped indicating she heard it.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and Khushi stood there, her initial smile faltering upon seeing him.

"A- Arnav, aap?" her eyes were wide with surprise.

"Yeah, me. Can I come in?" he asked with a reassuring smile.

She simply stood there staring at him.

He smiled at her antics, and asked again "Khushi, can I come in?"

Khushi blinked, her eyes now having a mix of surprise and apprehension. But she stepped away from the door nevertheless to let him in. She was not sure why he was here but a part of her was curious too. And thus, she followed him as he walked into her room.

He walked in, his gaze taking in the room that was hers. There were no stars or salman khan poster or aroma of jalebis and channa this time but there were still signs of this being a 'Khushi's place'. In place of salman khan poster, there was now a graceful dancing girl's poster, in place of stars, there were now colorful window curtains and the once-pervasive aroma of jalebis was now replaced by the delicate fragrance of freshly blooming roses arranged in a charming vase on the dresser.

Khushi led Arnav to sit on one of the two armchairs and she took another. They sat facing each other in her room, the atmosphere charged with unspoken words.

Arnav decided to simply broach the topic and end the tension. He was eager to bring back the easy camaraderie they had achieved in the past few days. So, taking a deep breath, his eyes turning earnest he said, "Khushi, I wanted to apologize for what happened last night. I realized that my actions might have made you uncomfortable, and that was never my intention."

Khushi looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and lingering wariness. As unexpected his last night's behavior was, his apology today was equally surprising. One that she didn't know she needed...And that made her respect him anew.

"Arnav, I just- I didn't expect you to... I guess I was just surprised. You were coming too close, and I felt..." she looked away not knowing how to complete either of those sentences. They had never spoken so much before, least about such topics...

He gently interrupted, "I understand, Khushi. I'm really sorry if I made you feel scared or violated. That was not my intention at all. I was not thinking straight."

Khushi nodded, taking in his sincere apology. She could see that he genuinely regretted his actions.

Khushi took a pause before finally saying, "You don't have to apologize so many times, Arnav. But thank you for saying that."

Arnav nodded.

A comfortable silence spread in the room; tension finally gone. Khushi was happy that Arnav was just the same honorable man she knew him as and Arnav was relieved one hard part of the conversation was done.

Perhaps this was a good time to also tell her about their past. He could start by telling her about how they met for the first time many years ago and then progressed to them falling in love. And then based on how much she was ok to digest, he could tell her more about their relationship...

He took a glance at her face, his own expression turning more intense as he began, "Khushi, there's something very important I need to tell you—about myself and our past. It's something that I think you need to know."

Khushi's expression shifted to one of apprehension as she heard him say that. She could guess he wanted to tell her about his marriage, and she was not sure she was ready to hear of it yet.

"Arnav, wait. If it's alright, can we have this conversation later? I'm not ready for it right now."

Her words stung, and Arnav's face fell slightly, feeling disappointed. He wanted to argue and tell her the damn truth and get over with it so he could proceed with their future. However, he quickly masked it with a resigned nod. He had decided to go with her choice, her pace, this time.

So, instead he said softly, "Sure, Khushi. We can talk later. Whenever you're ready."

Khushi managed a small, appreciative smile, and Arnav stood up, taking one last look around the room before heading for the door. As he left, he felt a mix of sadness and respect for her decision, silently vowing to give her the space she needed.

--*--

At the same time, another couple's relationship was also having its own twists and turns. Might not be as dramatic as Arnav's but amusing indeed.

"I am bored." she typed and hit the 'send' button.

Aman saw the text message and although he would have liked to indulge her, he typed, "I am in office, Kashish. Working."

"Come on. It is 8 pm! I left you alone for the entire day!" her frustration was evident through the words.

He sighed. He really needed to give her some time. Not because she was complaining but because even he was missing her. "Fine. Do you want me to call?"

In answer, his phone rang, and he smiled as he picked her call.

"Yes, Ms. Shah, how may I serve you today?" He asked in a cocky tone.

She giggled, which surprisingly made him forget all his stress from work and everything else.

"Let's play riddles."

"Riddles?"

"Yup. One of my favorite games." She spoke.

"I'm sure."

"Ok. I'll go first. The first riddle is - I am not alive, but I grow. I don't have lungs but need air. I can't drink but water kills me. Who am I?"

Aman realized how his IIM MBA was not useful enough to crack this riddle, neither was his work ex as ASR's right-hand man!

"Umm a kite?" he answered even when he knew it was a wrong guess.

"Kite doesn't grow." She replied and he swore he imagined her rolling her eyes.

"Fine, can't think of anything else."

"It is fire." She answered with a chuckle.

"No shit, that was easy. Alright, next one."

Kashish grinned. "I'm glad you're enjoying the bestest game in the world, Mr. Mathur. Here you go - I have keys but don't open locks, I have space but no room, you can enter but can't exit."

"This is easy. Keyboard." He answered in a second, feeling proud of himself. He couldn't believe that he was playing school-level games with her. But honestly, he was enjoying it.

"Bravo, Aman ji! You got it!"

They continued for some more time with him answering a few and not answering a few. And then he said to her, "Now let me give you a riddle and see if you can crack it."

"I can crack every riddle." she replied. And even though he couldn't see her face through the phone, he imagined her holding her chin up while saying that.

He smiled. His heart slightly racing as he said, "In the warmth of my embrace, solace you find, but I'm accused of playing with your mind. Though I'm invisible, my impact is clear, I'm the reason for joy, sometimes for tears. Who am I?"

Kashish frowned at first. What sort of a riddle was this? She was about to answer that she doesn't think this is even a riddle, when the words suddenly clicked in her mind. And she was shocked. Aman Mathur didn't just give her a riddle that had that 4-letter word as its answer. Did he? She gasped and automatically clasped her mouth with her fingers.

Aman waited for a reply with anxious breath... if she answered it right, which was love, he would tell her what he feels for her is also the same...

--*--

When Khushi stepped foot in AR that afternoon, she felt a nervous excitement within her. She had never been here until now. But the place always had intrigued her. She truly wanted to see where those beautiful designs were made that became exquisite designer clothes. So, when her Di mentioned this morning that they could go to AR after her college, she instantly said ok. Thankfully, she had just one class this semester and the dance rehearsals were something she could reschedule. So, she instantly said yes, and they picked her up in the afternoon to directly come here.

Meanwhile, Arnav stood in his cabin on the first floor, watching as Khushi entered the place where their story had begun in true sense all those years ago. This was the very same place that had seen him get angry at her, insult her, throw her out of his cabin, make her cry, and then get entangled in the web that her eyes, her antics, her bravery, her beauty and her entire being had around him. This was the place where he had first truly realized the magnitude of how much she controlled his mind, when he had seen her look like a heavenly nymph in a red saree on the day of a calendar shoot. That image had been imprinted on his mind!

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize when Akash and Anjali stood outside his cabin along with khushi. They perhaps were giving her a tour of the office. Thankfully most of the staff that worked with khushi 3 years ago had moved on to some other roles within AR that needed them to change locations or had left the company. The handful of people that knew her had been clearly instructed never to utter a word of her past to her.

Arnav reached the door in two long strides and held it open as Akash followed by Anjali and lastly Khushi entered his cabin. The moment was too special for him, but the other person who made it special was oblivious to it.

Khushi took slow steps into Arnav's cabin and observed how it was adorned with elegant artifacts, sophisticated office furniture, and numerous trophies that spoke of its owner's achievements. Her mouth fell slightly open in awe as she watched everything with curiosity.

And Arnav, watching from a distance, felt a sense of pride and contentment in her genuine admiration.

He hoped against hope for a miracle to happen at that moment, and khushi recollected something, anything about this place. Even a slight acknowledgement at this moment was fine...

But as he saw her turn back and leave with Anjali and Akash to see the rest of the office, he closed his hopes.

He shook his head and smiled ruefully. It was just the start after all. He could wait for her for an entire lifetime, 1 day was nothing.

Phir se milne ki jahan pe, De gaye the tum kasam
Dekh lo aa kar wahin pe, Aaj bhi baithe huye hai hum

Tumhare the tumhare hain
Tumhare hi rahenge hum

(The place where you promised we will meet again,
Come and see at the same place I'm waiting for you

I was yours, I am yours
I will always be yours)

Muddatein bhi chand lamhon, Jaisi lagti hain sanam
Baat hi aisi tumhare, Ishq mein kuch hai mere humdum

(Eons looks like just a few seconds
there is some magic in your love, my beloved)

Tumhare thhe tumhare hain
Tumhare hi rahenge hum *

*absolutely in love with this song and couldn't help but imagine arnav and khushi ❤
(credit to uploader)

--*--

A/N - It is draining to write the right emotions both Arnav and Khushi have been feeling at this moment in the plot but I hope it comes out ok. It may not seem so, but they both are making progress towards each other. We have an avalanche of emotions for these two in this story, the way it is unfolding...meanwhile KasAm are having time of their lives!😅