Chapter 35
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[MEMBERSONLY]
love_iqbal_khan 2014-12-25 21:05:36
Previous Chapter:
Chapter 28: Mission Restoration
"Dad, ask Akash to keep them there a couple more days..." Arnav spoke urgently, seeing the distraught expression on Khushi's face.
"They're already getting on the flight." Arvind sighed.
Khushi glanced at Arnav and shrugged defeatedly. Both of them were trying to avoid the others and now they were coming here...just when things were looking right.
"We'll figure it out." Arnav reassured her at once. "If you don't want to be around them, you don't have to be...Aunty?"
Garima looked between the two of them speculatively before nodding once. "Do what you have to."
"Oh, Amma!" Khushi threw her arms around her mother and embraced her tightly. "Thank you!"
Garima patted her daughter's back empathetically. "I'm trusting my daughter to do what is right...that's what your Bauji would have done."
Garima relax a tad bit further as Khushi pulled away and smiled at Khushi gently. Her eyes drifted to Arnav and she opened her arms for him too. The tension left through his pores as he closed the distance and embraced the elderly woman, soaking up the motherly affection that emanated from her.
"Thank you...I can't tell you how much your approval means to me..." Arnav's words dripped with honesty.
Khushi watched with a gentle smile on her lips while Arvind looked on proudly as he dropped an arm around Khushi's shoulders.
"I know it means something to both of you...otherwise you wouldn't have asked for it." Garima pulled away and caressed his hair.
"So where are you two escaping to?" Arvind questioned.
"The farmhouse." Arnav answered at once. "There's a relative of an old friend that Khushi needs to be introduced to."
Both Khushi and Arvind raised their eyebrows at him in confusion. What relative?
_____
After hastily packing a duffle bag with enough clothes to last five days, Arnav and Khushi headed out with a quick farewell to Arvind. Of course, on their way out, they made him promise that he wouldn't tell anyone where they were. Arvind was quick to accept. But then again, the man was so happy that he would have given them anything they asked for at that point.
Khushi kept up her chatter in the car on their way back, much more relaxed now that her mother knew everything. Or perhaps it was a way to keep herself distracted from the guilt she felt towards NK.
Knowing they only had a little bit of time left, Khushi scurried into her room to pack her small travel bag while Garima and Arnav sat in the living room. Arnav watched Garima for a few moments and didn't miss the way her eyes nervously darted to and fro in the room, her hands twisting in her lap--a habit that Khushi had most definitely picked up from her mother. Sighing, he stood up and walked to her, kneeling in front of her, covering her hands with his to keep her from breaking her own bones!
"Tell me what's bothering you." Arnav prompted gently, a small knowing smile tugging at his lips.
Garima gasped lightly at having been caught and averted her eyes. "I'm...worried."
"About Khushi?"
Garima nodded and briefly closed her eyes. "You weren't there, Bitwa...you didn't see her. She wasn't my Khushi anymore...she was always serious...distracted. She used to sit in front of the fireplace and just stare at the flames for hours! Smiles became rare...until she found NK, that is. I never want to see her that way again. I've given you two my blessings and my permission but in my heart...I worry that I may have made a mistake by doing so."
Arnav swallowed to clear his throat when she looked at him expectedly. "You have every right to not trust me with your daughter..."
"It's not that..." Garima cut him off mid sentence. "I know you care for her...you always have. In your adolescence, both of you have made mistakes and now you're trying to fix it...all that is fine...it's just a mother's heart worrying..."
"I don't want you to worry..." Arnav lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles with the affection of a son. "It makes me sad that I've caused so much grief to you two...In my mind, I know that she deserves better but I'm selfish...I could have never lived with myself if I hadn't tried to win her back..."
She fixed him with a serious look. "You couldn't live with yourself if you didn't win her back, but you would let her go if she had chosen NK?"
Arnav smiled sadly. "I wouldn't try to win her back against her will. If she wanted to lead a happy life with NK, then I would have let her go for her happiness, knowing in my heart that I deserve the rejection..."
"But she wants to lead that life with you...Even I can see the changes in her since we've returned...she has changed quite a bit in the last three years, and the Khushi I've seen through Anjali's wedding ceremonies is the closest to how my daughter used to me. That is enough to prove that If there is anyone who can bring my Titaliya back...it's you."
"I sure hope so. I miss the tomboy Khushi too." Arnav chuckled in unison with Garima. Sobering his expression, he looked up at her. "I will never let her return to that phase of life where NK brought her out from. I promise."
"Can you promise me one more thing?" Although her expression was serious, a teasing glint glittered in her eyes.
Arnav nodded in response, waiting to hear what other reassurance she wanted.
"Can you promise that you'll convince her to not get any more tattoos?"
Arnav blinked in surprise, looked at Garima for a couple of seconds, and then burst out laughing. Garima joined in with a small shy laugh as well.
"You don't like the tattoos?" Arnav questioned, humor dancing in his eyes.
"No." Garima made a face. "She's turned herself into a poster!"
"Is this about my tattoos again?" Khushi grumbled, walking into the room, pulling a small wheelie bag behind her.
"Maybe." Arnav smirked and stood up, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "It's between me and aunty. Butt out."
Khushi rolled her eyes dramatically. "Whatever. Read to go?"
Just as Arnav was about to answer, his phone rang. He pulled it out of his trouser pockets and looked at the screen, a frown marring his features. Anjali calling'. Declining the call, he shoved the phone back into his pocket, suddenly stony faced.
"Time to go." He muttered hoarsely.
Garima watched Khushi wearily, wondering how to say what she wanted to in front of Arnav. Khushi and Arnav gazed at each other for a few seconds, a look of understanding passing between them. Taking his cue, Arnav turned to Garima and gave her a small smile.
"I'll take care of her."
Garima nodded gratefully and caressed his cheek as he took his leave. Khushi walked up to her mother and embraced her, feeling the older woman's hands trembling at her back.
"Thank you, again, Amma. For understanding me..." Khushi pulled away and smiled tearfully at her mother.
"Khushi...I'm letting you go with him now because I know you want some distance from your friends but you have to know that I'm putting a lot of trust in you...you two are young and...you'll be all alone...I..." Garima stuttered, unsure of what words to use.
Khushi's eyes widened slightly as what Garima was insinuating sank in. "Don't worry Amma...I won't do anything that will embarrass you."
Garima sighed lightly and nodded, caressing Khushi's cheek once more. "Take care of yourself...all I and your Bauji have ever wanted is for you to be happy. Now go before your Buaji gets home...she will create a riot in here if she finds out..."
After another hug, Khushi bid her mother goodbye and made her way to the car. Arnav was waiting for her, leaned against the SUV. As she approached, he straightened and held out his hand to take the bag from her. He opened the door for her while she passed the bag to his free hand. Once she took her seat, he closed her door, walked to the rear of the car, put the bag in the trunk, and then walked around to slide into the driver's seat.
Khushi looked towards the entrance of her house where her mother stood watching them with a myriad of emotions on her face. Khushi smiled enthusiastically and waved at her as Arnav drove away from the house.
"There's an iPod in the glove compartment...it docks right here." Arnav tapped the small slot in the panel on the dashboard after a couple of long silent minutes.
"Is it a long drive?" Khushi questioned.
"A couple hours of a drive if the highway is clear...you look like you need a distraction." Arnav kept his eyes trained on the road, eyeing the tailgater in the rearview mirror occasionally.
Khushi didn't argue with that. She docked the iPod in its slot, absent-mindedly selecting a random song. A low, soft rhythm filled the air for a couple of seconds before the drums and electric guitar echoed off of the closed confines of the car. Khushi smiled, recognizing the song, and glanced at him knowingly.
A small smile tugged at his lips. This was one of the many songs that they'd been absolutely obsessed with in their young-adulthood. It used to drive the others crazy!
"You still listen to Linkin Park?" Khushi raised an eyebrow.
"A lot of memories attached with their songs." Arnav shrugged and continued driving, his eyes trained on the road.
Khushi leaned her head back against the head-rest and closed her eyes. It was odd that such a loud rock song could bring her this sense of calm. Deep down, she knew the calm came from the fact that in the midst of all this mess...there is still some normalcy remaining.
A few seconds later, she felt his hand enclose over hers on her thigh before he moved it to his, not letting go. His thumb drew small circles across her knuckles, trying to calm her, silently reassuring her of his presence. She wanted to admonish him for driving one-handed but chose to revel in the feel of his hand encasing hers.
The exhaustion of the past few days finally caught up with her. The semi-sleepless nights she had spent as she tried to make a decision were finally hunting her down for revenge. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep.
_____
She was floating in the air...and it made no sense. Her feet weren't on the ground, but she felt as if she was moving. And she felt too warm. It was an odd feeling. Was she flying? Free-falling? It should have scared her but it didn't. She felt safe, protected...cherished.
And then the floating feeling disappeared. She was on a soft plump cloud, feeling feather-light. The warmth lingered, thankfully. She felt a gentle breeze caress her face, moving a strand of hair away from her cheeks.
And then the warmth began moving away and her hands clutched at it, trying to hold it close.
Khushi...
A smile tugged at her lips. The warmth was calling out to her.
"Hmm?" She managed drowsily. The warmth began to move again and she frowned. "No..."
Khush.
Her heart raced. There was only one person who could make her nick-name sound like the most wonderful word. He eyes fluttered open and slowly, the blurriness dissipated and his face came into focus.
He looked down at her affectionately, his face a few inches away, his features etched in an expression that portrayed love, concern, and amusement all at the same time.
"Arnav?" She mumbled, glancing around to gather her surroundings. She was no longer seated in the car. She was lying on a queen-sized bed in a cozy room that smelled of clean linens and fabric softener. "When did we get here?"
"A few minutes ago...I didn't want to wake you." He smiled down at her.
She looked up at him, amusement glazing her eyes. "How did I get in here?"
He cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "How do you think, Khush?"
Oh...now the floating makes sense...he carried me! She continued to look at him, unsure of why he was still lingering above her. And then he answered her unspoken question as if he had read her mind.
"If you let go of my shirt, I might be able to move." He stifled a grin.
Her eyes dropped down to her hands which clutched at his shirt. Trying to hold the heat closer... She let go slowly but didn't move to get up. She could feel his eyes watching her, scrutinizing her mood. She heard him sigh lightly, before he leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"I'll heat up our dinner...why don't you freshen up?" Arnav tapped the tip of her nose with his index finger before standing. "Pasta okay?"
"Pasta sounds great." Khushi sat up and smiled at him. "Do you need help?"
"Well...there is something you can do..." Arnav scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Why don't you choose a movie for us to watch tonight...the Arnav-Khushi way? Let's see if your dialogue remembering skills are still sharp."
"You're on." Khushi threw the blanket off of her and stood up enthusiastically.
As Arnav walked out of her room, he mentally patted his own back for planning out this week in the car while she was asleep. He knew that the best thing for them to do right now was to re-live their moments, indulge in the activities they'd always done together...watching movies, playing video games, making spontaneous plans. The excitement the thought brought to him was uncanny.
He turned up the music on the stereo a little bit as he walked into the kitchen. Pulling out a pan from the cupboard, he washed it and dried it before emptying the take-out pasta container into it. Setting it over medium heat, he found himself a couple of glasses as well. He mentally thanked his father again as he pulled out two chilled cans of coke from the fridge. As soon as their plans were made, Arvind had sent one of the housekeepers here to stock up the fridge and clean up.
Arnav had gladly dismissed Om Prakash, the youngest of Prakash brothers, to the housekeeper's quarters as soon as they'd gotten here. The man looked like he had worked hard to ready the place for them and Arnav decided he needed some time off as much as they needed solitude.
Just as he split the pasta into two large servings in the bowls, he felt the atmosphere around him change. Without looking up, he knew she was making her way towards him. He lifted his head to glance at her and froze in his actions. She walked towards him while pushing the sleeves of her navy blue hoodie to her elbows. She had coupled the hoodie with a pair of gray shorts while her hair was tied up in a ponytail. No makeup. No Jewelry. Just his Khush.
Suddenly, he had teleported back a few years. He couldn't help but grin as she hopped onto the counter, opened the can of coke and took a long swig.
"What?" She questioned, setting the can of coke on the counter.
His eyes twinkled as he handed her the bowl of pasta. "You look great."
Khushi scoffed as she took the bowl from him and dug in. "Nice try at the flattery...you can't deny that you would have made fun of me a few years ago..."
"But you don't know that I'd give anything to go back in time and change that." Arnav played with the pasta in his bowl as he leaned against the counter next to her. "I would take every opportunity to give you the compliments as they passed through my mind...I only made fun of you so that I didn't end up blurting the cheesy compliments...but now I know better. I'm not going to repeat my mistakes."
Khushi watched him for a few seconds; the forkful of pasta paused mid-air as his words stirred all sorts of emotions within her. She decided that for now, keeping things on a light note was the best policy.
"You like this tom-boy look on me?" She put the pasta in her mouth and chewed greedily, realizing just how hungry she was.
"You have no idea. I've missed this...as good as you look in these dresses and classy outfits that you've turned to...your tom-boy look is my favorite." Arnav shrugged as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Jeez, Arnav...Even I've grown out of my hoodie and sweats phase...but you're still weird!" Khushi chuckled.
"Ah but you love the weird." The smugness was evident in his voice.
The corners of her lips lifted in an honest smile and she looked at him from under her eyelashes. "That is true...I do love the weird."
Arnav held her gaze for a few long seconds silently. Words were unnecessary when their eyes spoke volumes to one another. They were glad to be here. It felt odd to be trying to revert back to their old ways because if truth be told...neither of them the same any more. The Khushi and Arnav who shared the friendly, limitless bond were lost over time.
If she were honest with herself, she did worry what would happen if they couldn't return to that level of comfort again. Would the gap of three years always stand as a barrier between them? Even worse, what if one of them realized that what they believed to be love' was just an echo of the feelings that they'd had in the past when in the present, they had moved on? Was that a possibility?
"Penny for your thoughts?" Arnav prompted when she shuddered lightly, though he doubted that she realized it.
Khushi shook her head and helped herself to another forkful of pasta. "What do you have in mind for these few days?"
Sighing, Arnav placed his bowl of pasta on the counter and grabbed the remote control. Pressing a button on it, he turned the music down considerably before standing in front of her. Her heartbreak picked up pace as he placed both of his hands on the counter on her sides, locking her in. She swallowed to clear her mouth of any remaining pasta.
"Don't keep your thoughts from me, Khushi." Arnav spoke gently, sadness tinting his voice. "This whole deal of keeping our thoughts to ourselves has done us enough damage, don't you think? If there is something bothering you, upsetting you...tell me. Please."
Khushi sighed in defeat. He was right. If they were going to make this work, they will have to be honest and open with each other. It was just that life had taken a complete 180-degree turn within the span of a few days...the aftermath was only now catching up to her, overwhelming her senses. Perhaps she could escape after the movie and attack her diary with her thoughts. Or you could just tell him... Her subconscious prompted.
"What if we don't find what we shared before, Arnav?" Khushi looked up at him wearily, nervous about his reaction. "Just less than a week ago, we were living thinking that we ignored each other for three long years...then in the matter of a couple of days, everything is sorted and our feelings are out in the open...what if...what if we never restore things?"
Arnav straightened and moved his hands from her sides. He picked out the bowl from her hand and placed it on the counter before cupping her face. "We may not be able to be successful with the restoration but we can always build anew on the old foundation. I'm not giving myself any false hope here, Khushi. I know that things won't go back to how they were. We're not the same anymore...I've changed...you've changed...and I know that for a bit, we'll both be trying to find glimpses of what used to be...but eventually we'll get used to the changes..."
"We don't have a lot of time...I'll be leaving for Australia in a month, Arnav..." Khushi whispered.
Arnav rested his forehead against hers. "I know...I'm trying not to think about it...we'll cross that bridge when we get there...for now, I just want to eat, and watch a movie with you...what do you say?"
Khushi nodded once he pulled away from her. For a second, she thought that he might kiss her. She shoved the small tinge of disappointment aside, knowing that he'd pulled away on purpose to respect her wishes of keeping physical intimacy level to a minimum until she spoke to NK.
He led her to the living room and asked her to choose a movie from the large media centre. She browsed through the multiple DVD's and BlueRays while he brought their pasta bowls and cans of coke to the coffee table. By the time he came to stand next to her, she had a stack of three movies in her hands.
"Pirates of the Caribbean marathon?" Arnav asked, looking at the stack of DVD's with amusement.
"Are you up for it?" She raised an eyebrow challengingly.
Arnav smirked. "Bring it on, Tiny."
____
"Let me sleep!" Khushi groaned.
"Its noon, Khushi...wake up!" Arnav shook her one more time. "I want you to meet someone."
"Who?" Khushi blinked up at him drowsily.
"You'll find out if you get up...come on. You've wasted half the day."
"Stupid buffoon." Khushi muttered crossly s she sat up.
"I heard that..." Arnav rolled his eyes. "If you don't make your way to the washroom right this minute, I will carry you in there and leave you under the freezing shower water." Arnav threatened with authority.
Khushi gasped. "You wouldn't."
Arnav put on knee on the bed and leaned closer, supporting his weight with his hands. "You know I would. I've done it before..."
Khushi twisted her lips, displeased at having lost the battle. He could leave her under the freezing shower stream as easily as she could use tape to "wax" off his arm hair. She crawled out of bed and fixed him with a glare before walking towards the washroom. As she closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but smile.
Something about the movie marathon the night before had set a comfortable atmosphere in the house. Suddenly, she felt as if she was back in university, in a time where things were simpler...where they joked endlessly and called each other names. The bit of awkwardness which was there before they started the movies was now absent, and Khushi was grateful for that.
With the exciting anticipation of the plans for today, Khushi brushed her teeth and took a quick shower before stepping out into the room. Thankfully, he wasn't still sitting here. She could smell the aroma eggs and fresh coffee wafting in from the kitchen. Quickly dressing in a tank-top and shorts, she made her way to the kitchen. Arnav was already at the table, typing away furiously on his laptop while Om Prakash cooked breakfast, although it was really lunch time, behind the island counter.
Arnav looked up and smiled at her as she walked over to him. "Good morning OP!"
She slid into the chair next to Arnav and leaned across to give him a quick hug. "Morning."
"Good Afternoon, Khushi...You seem to be in a good mood." Arnav noted.
"It's all because of the food." She rhymed poetically and chuckled. "Don't give yourself too much credit."
Arnav rolled his eyes and continued to type away while Khushi dug into the food laden plate. He glanced at her with amusement from the top edge of the laptop, smiling and smirking to himself as she lost all sense of time and place, lost in her first love: food.
As she ate, she slid the index finger of her free hand across her phone's screen, obviously playing some kind of game. She would bite her lip when she seemed to be planning her next move, smirked when she had a plan and made irritated sounds when what she had planned didn't go her way.
"What are you playing?" Arnav couldn't help but ask.
"Angry Birds..." She replied without glancing at him.
Arnav groaned. "Not you too!"
"What? It's a fun game..." Khushi looked at him, indignant. "It's a good exercise of critical thinking, patience, and strategizing!"
Arnav snorted lightly. "I'm sure it is. Give your mind a break...put the game away and finish your breakfast."
"Says that man who's working away at the dining table." Khushi retorted, pushing the phone away from herself obediently.
"Just finishing some things for Aman so that he doesn't bother me when I'm trying to spend time with you." Arnav stated matter of factly.
Khushi grinned at him and returned to the task of emptying the last few pieces of fruit on her plate.
"Once you're done, I want you to meet someone." Arnav closed his laptop and pushed it aside, leaning back in his chair, looking a couple years younger than his age.
Khushi's mind brought forth the memory. He had mentioned yesterday that there was a relative of a friend he wanted her to meet. No sooner had she wiped her mouth with a napkin and set it on the table than he stood up, the excitement rolling off of him in waves.
Khushi followed automatically and he reached out to take her hand. She walked alongside him quietly as he led her to his room. Just before they reached, he slowed down and looked at their hands, a ghost of a smile on his face. Pulling her so that she was in front of him, he let go of her hand to place it over her eyes.
"Arnav, what..."
"Time for a surprise." Arnav whispered into her ear, sending tingles up and down her spine.
She felt his arm brush the side of her waist casually as he reached for the doorknob. Once he threw the door open, he wound the same around her waist to help her walk in the right direction. Khushi's breathing hitched in her throat...more from the way her back moved rhythmically against his chest as he led them forward. Confusion clouded her mind when he came to a stop but didn't open her eyes right away.
"Seem familiar?" He asked and then removed his hand so that she could see.
Just like he had expected, she gasped dramatically and clutched at his arm. "Oh my God!!"
"Yeap." Arnav chuckled seeing the bright smile on her face. This was the happiest he had seen in the last few days. Who would have thought that a milk snake, of all things, could make her this happy?
Khushi bent to peer into the glass tank. "Aww...he looks just like Goldie! Arnav, where did you find him?!"
"One of my clients is big on unusual pets...this was a piece of cake for him." Arnav answered, opening the lid of the tank.
Fearlessly, Khushi reached in to grab hold of the bright orange, yellow, and black banded reptile. The unnamed snake wrapped around her slender arm, moving about as if this was an everyday ritual.
"When did you get him?" Khushi stroked the scales with the back of her fingers, the amusement and joy glittering in her eyes.
"Remember the day you'd come to AR to get your outfits for the wedding?" Arnav smirked smugly. "I took a little detour on the way home...?"
The playfulness in her eyes was cast aside within a blink, replaced by a much more sincere emotion. "You bought him then? But...we hadn't sorted anything at that time..."
Arnav tilted his head questioningly. "That was, as odd as it sounds, a minute detail...I was going to give him to you anyway...besides, why should I wait for a reason or an incentive to do something for you?"
Her eyes searched his face for something...anything...that could clear the overwhelming feeling in her heart but she found nothing. As another realization drove home, Khushi placed the snake back in its cage carefully, her heart sinking.
"We've lost so much time..." She sighed wistfully. "So much time wasted in the wake of sheer stupidity...why couldn't one of us just come out and say what we felt, damn it! We would have had so much time together...we would have avoided so much drama...all that pain."
"Don't Khushi." Arnav warned gently.
Khushi turned to him with a small smile on her face. "I know...but the feeling doesn't fade quickly...especially right now when everything is still fresh and cluttered...and then there this odd bubble that we're in...away from everyone else...I'm starting to become used to it Arnav...and I'm afraid that I won't be able to get out of it..."
Arnav held her by the shoulders and pulled her closer, carefully curbing the urge to kiss her. "We don't need to get out of it Khushi...Hell, if you want, we can stay here all our lives."
Khushi chuckled and looked up at him. "It's a tempting idea...but I do have to go back to Australia to finish school..."
Arnav raised an eyebrow. "You are constantly reminding me about that...is there a hint that I'm not picking up?"
Khushi shook her head sheepishly. "No hints...just a fact."
"Then take note of another fact...I know you're going back in a month and it is not going to change a damned thing." Arnav glared at her with affection.
Khushi rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that broadened her lips. "I'm glad...what's the plan for today?"
"Let's not watch a movie or play video games or anything...why don't we just talk?" Arnav shrugged.
"Talk? About what?" Khushi raised her eyebrows.
"You know everything about Shanaya and what I've done in these few years..." Arnav didn't miss the way anger simmered in Khushi's eyes and Shanaya's mention. "Tell me what you've been up to...since the day you left till the day you came back."
Next Chapter: (Page 112)
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