Chapter 23

Chapter 23

After relishing the delicious Mumbai Special' chaats and kulfi, Khushi dragged Arnav towards the vast ocean. The beach was secluded, as it was past dinner-time for the city, thus giving the lovebirds some much needed privacy. Khushi pulled off her heels and picked them up in her hand, gasping at the contact of her bare feet on the cold, soft sand. Arnav admired her beautiful face, glowing in the moonlight with unbridled joy. He held her hand possessively, their fingers laced together in a tight grasp. Arnav pulled off his shoes and socks and dropped them a couple of feet away from the receding waves, and was eventually dragged into the cool water splashing at their feet.

For Khushi, it was bliss... the feeling of velvet smooth sand, slipping underneath her feet, the cool breeze that washed over her face, the soothing sound of the ocean that brought a certain calm to her being. She stood silently, with her eyes closed, letting her senses savor these beautiful feelings. The waves lapping at her feet every now and then, the feel of Arnav's warm hand in her own and the freedom she was experiencing at the moment, were exhilarating. Arnav looked at her serene face and could not prevent himself from placing a quick kiss on her cheek. She looked ethereal... his angel.

After long moments of complete silence, Arnav asked Khushi, "Shall we go back, sweetheart? It's kind of late. I know Payal and Sumer will not be back yet, but you must be tired after a really long day." Khushi looked at him and nodded silently. Before he could take a few steps away, she hugged him tightly and mumbled upon his chest, "I love you, Arnav. These three words may not be able to justify the depth of my feelings for you. You have realized my every dream. You have brought so much happiness into my life, that now I realize how much I had been missing until now. Thank you for this lovely surprise, Arnav... this is a dream come true." She looked up at him, to see him staring at her intently. "Khushi, if you thank me once more, I will not stop to think that we are in a public place and will silence you in the best way I know." He pulled along a silently blushing Khushi with him, back to their hotel.

When they reached the doors of their suites, a moment of slight awkwardness and anxiety overcame them. Khushi managed to voice her fears silently, "Arnav, I got a text from Payal saying that she will be coming in very late and she has told me to go off to sleep. But... ummm... I am scared... umm... scared to sleep alone. Will you come to our room after you have freshened up?" Arnav laughed at his adorable girlfriend and pulled her closer for a quick kiss. "You don't have to even ask Khushi. If I didn't leave you alone in your own house in Delhi, angel, you think I would leave you alone here? Go freshen up quickly and I will be there in a few minutes," saying this, both of them quickly dashed into their suites to change into comfortable clothes. Arnav gave her some time to have a shower and relax, before he knocked on the door. If seeing her in that beautiful blue dress had taken his breath away, the sight in front of him now, made his desires surge.

He took in her freshly scrubbed face, her unbound wet hair smelling of some citrusy shampoo, the simple white kurta and salwar... making her look so innocent and untainted. His heart constricted with desire, while his head told him to go easy. Khushi was special and he did not want to rush her into physical intimacy, without her full consent. He needed to go slow and not ruin the wonderful relationship they shared. Placing his hand over his wildly thudding heart, he tried to pacify this outrageous craving. She looked at him questioningly, her hazel eyes clouded with nervousness. He simply shook his head and walked quickly into the suite, locking the door behind him. He walked straight to the balcony, clearing the chairs and the tiny table that lay there, as she looked over at him with confusion. He dragged the tiny sofa from the room, to be placed directly facing the ocean and sat comfortably on it. "Come here, Khushi," was all he said, patting the empty space beside him.

Khushi went towards the bed and got them a light comforter, as the cool night breeze was making her shiver. She wondered if the shivering was because of the wind, or such close proximity to the man that she loved. Without giving it too much thought, she went and sat besides him, as he pulled the comforter over them. Khushi immediately snuggled into him, finding comfort in his strong arms. She had not known that her life was going to be so beautiful. The dark ocean spread in front of them, the reflection of the moon shimmering on the windy waves... everything seemed surreal. She felt a feather-light kiss being placed on her forehead, as his hold on her became firmer. She looked up, to gaze into his stormy desirous eyes, the intensity of which singed her soul. "I am so much in love with you, Khushi... I feel like my whole being is consumed by such strong emotions. It scares the hell out of me sometimes... but most of the time, I feel like this is how it is meant to be... just you and me."

Khushi's eyes welled up, seeing the sincerity in his words... in his eyes. How could he love her so much? But wasn't it the exact same way she felt about him too? Both of them were just meant to be together, completing each other. Two halves who may be completely different, but they fit perfectly to make one whole. Her throat choked with emotion, not being able to express her feelings, she raised her lips to place a kiss on his. This was the first time that she had initiated a kiss, and she realized that he was giving her free reign to take the lead. Her fingers speared through his soft hair, massaging his scalp... pulling him towards her. Her lips moved slowly, languidly over his, nipping, sucking and relishing his taste. She was using every trick that she had learned from him, not once realizing that she had pleasantly mastered the art of seduction. She did not know how she was affecting Arnav, testing his self-control again and again. He pulled her towards himself, so that she was now comfortably resting on his lap. The kiss growing as fierce as the desire within their hearts... the need to touch her was driving him insane.

She felt the proof of his desire rubbing against her thigh and suddenly her body stiffened in response. He pulled away reluctantly, looking down at her face, a soft blush spreading across her cheeks. Her beautiful lashes rested on her high cheekbones, hiding away the love and longing she felt for him. He cupped her face, placed a swift kiss on her forehead and then sat her comfortably besides him once again. Looking at the ocean in front of him, he tried to clear his mind from the passionate haze that had engulfed them. Taking deep breaths, he calmed his body and pulled her closer to himself. Khushi had been shocked at these strong sensations she felt for Arnav. She was glad that he gave her the space and time required to take their relationship forward. At the moment, the cool sea breeze, the sound of his heartbeat and the warmth of his body was enough for her. He played an old melody on his iPhone, to reduce the awkwardness between them, as they slowly and steadily drifted off to sleep.

Aap ki aankhon mein kuch maheke hue se raaz hai
Aap se bhi khoobsurat aap ke andaaz hai
Aap ki aankhon mein kuch maheke hue se raaz hai
Aap ki baaton mein phir koi sharaarat to nahin
Bevaja taarif karna aap ki aadat to nahin
Aap ki badmaashiyon ke yeh naye andaaz hai...

In another part of the city, Payal and Sumer sat at the Worli seaface, overlooking the gigantic Worli Sea-link Bridge. After partying till the wee hours of the night, Sumer had asked Payal if she was tired and wanted to go back to the hotel to rest. But Payal had refused to sleep; she wanted to enjoy every single minute that she spent in this city. Even though they had been here for over five days, they had barely gotten any time to venture out and explore the city. The quick dinners were their only escape. Now as they sat quietly, listening to the sound of soft waves crashing against concrete, Payal wondered whether she should talk to him about what had been bothering her for a while.

"Hmm... bol. I know you are dying to tell me something... so just blurt it out, Payal." Payal laughed at his words and thought mentally, it takes years to know someone but sometimes-mere weeks are enough. The way Sumer took care of her needs, the way he understood her thoughts and the way he maintained a good distance from her... were stirring new feelings inside her. "I just wanted to apologize, Sumer. I am sorry for judging you without even knowing you. I know this sorry is overdue, yet I thought it's better late than never." He looked at Payal for a few moments, her face radiant in the yellow streetlight. Even though she looked a little tired, her inner beauty reflected on her face. She was stunning... those sparkling eyes, the sharp nose and even sharper tongue... how would it feel to taste it? What the! What was he thinking? He shook his head to clear his wayward thoughts... Yes! He realized that he definitely was attracted to Payal, but he would have to tread slowly. Her history and it's relation to him were sensitive issues. He would first have to gain her full trust and only then, would he be able to break down the barriers, that surrounded the real Payal.

"Oye hoye, Miss Payal Sharma, one of India's leading fashion designers, is apologizing to a mere photographer? This has got to be tomorrow's headlines, Payal," Sumer laughed, dissolving the tension between them and earning a smack in return. Payal smiled at how easily, he turned intense conversations to light-hearted chats. After a few minutes of silence, Payal again asked, "Sumer, what is your story with Shyam. You had said, you would tell me when we would have some free time... and see, now we don't have a deadline." She noticed his face twisting at the mention of Shyam and added immediately, "It's ok, if you don't want to, Sumer. I understand. Maybe some other time." Sumer moved side-ways and held her hand. "No Payal, I guess lets just get this Shyam chapter out of our lives. If you could reveal your torturous past to me, mine is nothing in comparison."

Payal pressed his hand, giving him the comfort he needed to proceed. "Hmmm... Shyam is my first cousin. Our families lived together until a few years ago. He, being two years younger than me, was pampered and spoilt. He would play pranks on our common friends and then conveniently put the blame on me. Their parents used to complain to my mom and dad... My mom and dad! Who think I have been completely spoilt. The comparison between us started becoming unbearable... Shyam dekho yeh karta hai... Shyam dekho kitna accha hai! He would cheat in his exams and top them. I would study hard and manage to get decent scores. But, that was never enough for my parents. They were ashamed to have a son like me... and proud of Shyam. He was always goody-two-shoes, in front of our parents, pretending to be an obedient son. Only I knew what he was growing up as... a monster, a spoilt rich-brat! His addiction to drugs, his affairs and his wayward deals in uncle's business is going to ruin this family some day. He chose to join my uncle's business and I declined to join my dad's. I chose to be a mere photographer, and that's why my father loves him and detests me. Well, those are just a few details of my history with my beloved brother!"

Sumer stopped talking, staring at the sky, that was brightening into a brand new day. Payal took a few minutes to grasp everything he had said, and felt sorry for the small boy, who was mistreated, for not being like his jerk of a younger brother... and she was glad that he was nothing like Shyam. She looked at his handsome face, his soft hair falling over his forehead, adding a boyish charm to his looks. She smiled and said, "What Sumer! Your life seems to be revolving around Shyam. Your parents were angry with you, because you were not like him and I was angry with you, because you were like him... Poor Sumer, nobody likes him!!" She winked at him, making him forget all his worries, as both of them burst out laughing. The sky brightened further, celebrating the newfound friendship between the two people.

"Bhook lagi hai?" Sumer asked a now visibly tired Payal. They had just moved from the seaface and were hailing a cab back to the hotel. She nodded slightly, not knowing where they were going to find some food at five in the morning. However, twenty minutes later, Payal found themselves seated in a small, cozy Irani hotel. Sumer ordered for the famous bun-maska and chai' and also ordered for a masala omelette. Payal relished the taste of the hot masala tea and the generously buttered bun. Impromptu plans could be so much fun, she thought. Till now, her life had always been planned and structured. There had been only hard work and lots of dedication, to work her way up the success ladder. However today... this partying all night, the comfortable walk along a beach and having a cup of tea at the crack of dawn, gave her infinite happiness. She felt liberated and content. It was only after six that morning, that she came back to her room. Seeing Khushi and Arnav happily cuddled in the balcony, she quietly got into her own bed and dozed off into peaceful slumber.

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Khushi stirred in her sleep, feeling some moisture on her face. She blinked her eyes twice, before she could actually open them properly. The sight in front of her, took her breath away. Mumbai was experiencing its first monsoon showers. The horizon was blurred, with the sky and the ocean merging into one. The wind blew forcefully, causing the rain to lash into the balcony. It was only after a couple of minutes, that she noticed Arnav besides her... his eyes trained on her face. She blushed at his intense gaze and wished softly, "Good morning." He bent down towards her, placing a swift kiss on her cheek and mumbled in her ear, "Good morning, angel. Looks like we carried the monsoon along with us to Mumbai." She laughed along with him and suddenly turned around to see if Payal had returned. Thankfully, Payal was in too deep a sleep to be disturbed by them. "Khushi, do you want to go out? I want to show you a bit of Mumbai, before we leave in the evening. And there is one last surprise for you."

It was after an hour that Khushi knocked on Arnav's suite, to see an exceptionally dapper Arnav standing in front of her. He always took her breath away with his persona. He was so charismatic, that she still could not believe, he was her boyfriend. She blushed at the thought and heard his husky voice, "Don't do that, Khushi. Your blushing red cheeks tempt me to kiss you all the time. Let's get out of here, before I push you into some corner and kiss you senseless." Khushi blushed even more and almost sprinted towards the lift. After last night, Arnav seemed to have become even more shameless, she thought. Soon they were on their way and to Khushi's surprise, Arnav was conveniently driving them through the city. "How do you know the roads in Mumbai, Arnav? Do you come here often?" she asked. "Hmm... Yeah, I used to come here with dad, accompanying him for his business meetings. He would send a driver along with me to explore the city, while he worked. That is why I can find my way easily, around here."

In about ten minutes, their car halted along the seaside, and it took Khushi a few moments to realize where they were. "Oh my God! Oh my God! We are really here... He... he is really inside?? Can I meet him?" Khushi screamed, jumping up and down in her seat. In a quick move, she was out of the car, jumping excitedly on the road, as a few others looked at her in awe. Arnav could not help laughing at her antics. They were now, standing outside Shahrukh Khan's bungalow, Mannat'. There were other excited onlookers too, just like Khushi, who were as excited to be here. "Khushi, we can't meet him. It is not allowed and we don't even know if he is inside, or is out for a shoot." Khushi's face fell a little, as she pulled out her phone and asked Arnav to click a picture of her with the bungalow in the background. Arnav could not help admire her child-like excitement as he clicked her picture, and then spent few minutes just strolling around.

Soon, they were on their way to the other end of the city... the southern end... the beautiful Queen's necklace. It had started pouring heavily by now. Thankfully it was a Sunday, and the traffic was almost nil. Khushi noticed a lot of people getting drenched in the first showers, enjoying the crashing waves, that surged onto the road. The city looked so beautiful and peaceful. Khushi looked out of the window, gazing at the water droplets, on her window, forming random patterns. Arnav brushed his knuckles softly over her cheek, to tell her that they had arrived at their destination. Khushi had tried to ask him what the surprise was, but he had been completely secretive about it. This trip had been a beautiful experience so far, and she wondered what more was in store for her. He led her into the grand Taj Mahal Hotel, telling her that they would be eating at the famous Sea Lounge, which would again be facing the ocean. Khushi smiled at him lovingly, and followed him... her hand tightly held in his warm hand... its warmth seeping into her heart.

PRECAP:

Khushi looked at the woman, who was now walking towards their table... a dazzling smile on her beautiful face. She looked extremely elegant in her bright yellow top and a short grey skirt. Her long hair fell in soft silky waves, to her waist, swaying gracefully as she made her way through the tables. Her nude stilettoes made a clicking sound through the silent restaurant, grabbing the attention of many of its occupants. For the first time, Khushi could not stop herself from checking out a woman... everything about her spelt class and perfection. In the midst of all this open admiration, Khushi hadn't noticed Arnav getting up from his chair, to walk towards that gorgeous woman, who was now pulling off her glares. Her eyes shining with excitement and happiness to see Arnav, whereas Khushi's heart sank as she noticed the same happiness mirrored on her Arnav's face. Who was she?

Chapter 24

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We are on our third thread of this journey of Peek-a-boo!! I am overwhelmed by the love that all of you'll, always shower on me. Thank you so much for your undying support and I do hope you are enjoying this story. ❤️ Let the game continue...

This chapter is dedicated to kooldewdrop and nishu_shorna. Thank you so much Niha and Nishu, for you love, encouragement and lots of lovely comments of my work. A big hug to you'll! 🤗

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