Part 19

Q/N - Here goes one of the anticipated chapters of this FF. Enjoy the love-bonanza. Credit for all images, gifs and videos used is to the respective creators and uploaders.

--*--

Life has a strange knack of gifting you some of the most cherish-able moments without a forewarning. Arnav Singh Raizada had experienced this secret of life since the day he came in contact with an angelic beauty on the eve of his most ambitious fashion show. He had of course acknowledged it later but that was one of the most beautiful moments of his living experience until then. Something had stirred in his ice-cold heart when he held her closer, something had changed about him when he looked at her coral-pink lips quivering like a scared baby and when she opened her beautiful eyes to look at him, his soul was imprinted by her!!!

It had been many a moons to that evening in Lucknow. 4 years to be precise. So many things changed and happened between them from that day onwards. He fought with her, he tried to push her away and then he tried to win her back. But in all this, the effect that chit of a girl had on him- still has on him, didn't change. It probably would never...

Khushi had surrendered her mind, heart, and perhaps even her body as Arnav led her toward the stage. She was completely unprepared for this moment. His mere presence was a challenge to her performance and discovering that he was her contract husband had taken her by sadness. To make matters more complicated, Arnav was stepping in for an injured Dev sir, her original dance partner.

It was then that Arnav stepped in and told her to forget everything else—just focus on him and how she felt in that moment. And strangely, she found herself doing just that. It worked like a potent spell as Khushi's mind, heart and steps auto tuned to Arnav.

Meanwhile, backstage, the sound and audio control team were all set to play the song for Khushi's performance. Just then, Aakash approached them. And after some convincing from him and Dev sir, the sound team agreed to add an extra song immediately after Khushi's original track.

With that the first song started playing. It was also quite apt for the situation for both Arnav and Khushi's feelings that evening. The song was called -Tum Kya mile- which meant 'As you met me'.

The lights in the auditorium dimmed, leaving only the ones around the stage on. And then a spotlight fell over their love-soaked bodies as Arnav confidently lip-synced the song.

Be-Range The Din, Be-Rangi Shaamein
Aayi Hai Tum Se Rangeeniyan

Pheenke The Lamhein, Jeene Mein Saare
Aayi Hai Tum Se Namkeeniyan

Be-Iraada Raaston Ki, Bann Gaye Ho Manzilein
Mushkilein Hal Hain Tumhin Se, Aur Tumhin Ho Mushkilein

Tum Kya Mile, Tum Kya Mile
Hum Na Rahe Hum, Tum Kya Mile

The lyrics went something like: my days and nights were colorless but you brought color to them; the moments were tasteless but you brought flavor in them; you have become the destination of my earlier lost ways. As you met me, I didn't remain myself...

Arnav twirled her around on the hook-line of the song 'hum na rahe hum, tum kya mile'.

Khushi was teleported to another world by that time. She didn't remember her past, yes, but at that moment, she didn't even remember her present. She didn't remember where she was, who she was. All she acknowledged was HIM. Arnav. And the way he had enveloped her around himself... Her hopelessly besotted heart followed his lead as the next lines played.

Kore Kagazon Ki Hi Tarha Hai, Ishq Bina Jawaniyan
Darj Hui Hai Shayari Mein, Jinki Hai Prem Kahaniyan

Hum Zamaane Ki Nigaahon Mein, Kabhi Gumnaam The
Apne Charche Kar Rahi Hai, Ab Shehar Ki Mehfilein

Tum Kya Mile, Tum Kya Mile
Hum Na Rahe Hum, Tum Kya Mile

Jaise Mere, Dil Mein Khile
Phagun Ke Mausam, Tum Kya Mile

Click here to Watch the song on Youtube

They came closer as the song ended. Catching their breath for a moment.

But somewhere they felt they were not done yet. Even the audience who was witness to this magical moment in time wanted more of this couple. And to their sheer good luck, they heard another song getting started as the audio team started playing the song Aakash had asked them to.

It was their love anthem back in time. And it was to become their anchor to each other this evening. The tale of two lovers who had a love story filled with unimaginable difficulties, it very well related to the lyrics of the song. Like the song lyrics went, their love story couldn't be explained in two words...

Teri meri, meri teri prem kahani hai mushkil
Do lafzon mein yeh bayaan na ho paaye
Ik ladka ik ladki ki yeh kahani hai nayi
Do lafzon mein yeh bayan na ho paaye

(Yours and mine, mine and yours, love story is difficult,
it can't be told in two words,
This story of a girl and a boy is new,
it can't be expressed in two words..)

Khushi had somewhere realized she had not practiced on this song. Yet, she felt as if she knew every step, as if she and Arnav had practiced on it together... but when?

She didn't get to dwell on that line of thought as the song continued playing, talking about how this story was unknown to everyone else but those two. It couldn't have been more apt!

Teri meri baaton ka har lamha sabse anjaana,
do lafzon mein yeh bayaan na ho paaye

(Every moment of your and my talks is unknown to everyone else
it can't be expressed in two words...)

Har ehsaas mein tu hai har ik yaad mein tera afsaana
Do lafzon mein yeh bayaan na ho paaye

(You're in my every feeling, and your story in my every memory
it can't be expressed in words...)

There was a stunned silence amongst the audience. Everyone was truly mesmerized with what they saw, a performance that can only be described as magical!

And then, a loud roar of claps resounded in the hall!

Arnav instantly felt the loss of her warm touch as she separated herself from him and stood by his side. The reality had come crashing down on her, unbeknownst to him. So, when he looked at her amidst the continued thunderous clapping and smiled at her, her hesitant, confused, questioning eyes unsettled him...

Meanwhile, Shyam who was sitting in the audience seethed in anger and disbelief when he saw his worst nightmare come true! That too twice in the same lifetime! Sale sahab and Khushi ji, in each other's arms, too close for his liking. He had to sit there and watch as Arnav got to hold Khushi ji by her delicate waist, he could not do anything as he watched Arnav lift Khushi's delicate body in air and slide it against his chest. And when he saw Khushi ji's hair splayed across Arnav's face when he pulled her closer during a step, Shyam nearly fainted! All of this was his fantasy! How dare his pain-in-the-nether-region sale sahab got to enjoy this!

On the other side, Raizadas along with Vikrant, Kashish-Aman and Dev-Lavanya stood in a small huddle just behind the stage. And the group had varied ranges of emotional reactions watching their beloved couple's dance like that of a pair of swans!

Anjali had misty eyes as she saw Khushi so attuned to Arnav, her earlier worries that Khushi would not be happy with him now even more subsided. Because that kind of display of love was only possible if Khushi felt extremely safe and comfortable with Arnav. The thought made Anjali overwhelmed with emotions and her eyes moist with unshed tears. Vikrant who was standing behind her, pressed her shoulders in a comforting gesture. He had watched the dance with a keen eye, seeing if there were any sings of khushi getting her memory triggered. He had to talk to her separately about this.

Aman, on the other hand, had missed the first time his boss danced with Khushi Bhabhi 3 years ago on Aakash's sangeet. So, this was the first time he had seen ASR dance. And like THAT! Aman's mouth was hanging open in shock.

"I know there are no flies around here but still, close your mouth, Aman." Kashish said, tapping his chin to close his mouth.

She herself was surprised though. She had never expected her always in 'heartbroken-romeo' era brother to dance like that...

Lavanya felt happy for her once-boss-turned-boyfriend-turned ex-fiancé and her dearest friend come together like that. And this was not the first time when she felt like patting her own back for taking that decision of breaking her engagement with Arnav the way she did.

Dev was probably the only one who had not had his eyes glued to Arnav-Khushi. Because he had kept looking at Lavanya and her glee-ful expressions throughout the dance. And maybe, he even envisioned himself there on stage with Lavanya, dancing like that.

Payal had not left Aakash's hand throughout the dance. She was nervous thinking if playing that song would trigger Khushi's memories in a wrong way. She was afraid if something went south, and she once again failed to save Khushi. But when Khushi not only pulled off the dance but also did it so well, it made Payal a proud jiji!

Aakash on the other hand, couldn't have been happier. Because after a long time, he and Payal truly held each other's hand with love and trust. Sure, they did behave like a normal husband wife in these 3 years but somewhere the love had taken a hit. Their disagreements about bringing Arnav back to Shantivan had led to frequent clashes. Payal firmly supported Nani and Anjali's decision of not letting Arnav be back in Khushi's life while he had wanted to do so. It was only recently that they realized that perhaps all they had to do was wait and see how things work out in long run. After all, as they say time heals everything.

Arnav couldn’t wipe the smile off his face even after he and Khushi stepped off the stage. Though she didn’t say anything while walking away, he knew she still had one more dance left for the evening, so he decided to let her be. Nothing was going to dampen the high spirits this night had gifted him. The memories of their sensual dance from 3 years ago were dear to Arnav but tonight made a very special place in his heart and he knew he will cherish it even more. How he wished he had an events-cleaning duster to wipe out everything that went wrong after that night in their lives... but he didn't. All he could do now was make the present count.

A hopeful present and future for him and Khushi.

--*--

Precap – "Who told you about Contract marriage, Khushi? Hamari family me se to ye baat tumse kisi ne nahi ki, toh fir tumhe kaise pata chala? Who mentioned about it to you?"

--*--

A/N - So? How did you like the chapter? Worth the anticipation? Honestly, it's a tall challenge to do full justice to Arnav-Khushi's magic in words. But a girl can try, no? :*) Anyhow. Did you like the choice of the other song? Only using 'teri meri' would be impractical and I felt 'Tum kya mile' fit perfect for them here.