Chapter 40

Chapter 40: An Evening To Remember

Hello everyone,

Thank you for patiently waiting for my break to end... Actually I was supposed to stay on a break for another 3-4 days but yesterday's epi was just too much to sit around doing nothing when I knew that the whole forum would be rejoicing the Shaadi of the year...

So I had to come back... and since I am back there is an update... 😉 in a new thread...🥳 That's all a silly writer like me can do to celebrate... Or is it just that??? Ummm we'll see...😆

Anyways... all those who patiently or not so patiently missed me, Guys I missed you all too... Especially Shruti... who got so impatient ke...🤣 anyways I love you dear...🤗 and Also Priya for all the sweet messages... I love you so much...🤗

Okay now enough of my bakbak... Happy Reading...😃

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Arnav was waiting eagerly for Khushi to return. Not only was he eager to get out of the house but also he was looking forward to spending some time with Khushi. He had planned to take her out on along drive through the city showing her all the places that he often visited as a kid with his Dadi and then take her to his favourite restaurant for dinner.

Khushi on the other hand was restless all day at work. She could hardly concentrate on anything and wanted to go back home as soon as she could. She wondered where all this restlessness came from. Finally unable to take it anymore, she called Arnav at lunch time.

"Uh... Hi Arnav, I... just called to check if... you have eaten." She said lamely.

Arnav was surprised that she had called him at all, "Yes I had my lunch."

"And medicines?" She asked.

"Yes medicines too... all accept the sleeping pills." He smirked.

She too smiled. "Good, it wouldn't do if I came home early, hoping for an evening out and you were sleeping; that would be really..." She stopped suddenly realising what she was saying.

"That would be really... what Khushi?" He asked impatiently.

She was going to say that it would be disappointing if Arnav slept out while they had planned to go out. But how could she even think something like that? She couldn't understand anything that was going on right now.

"Nothing." She replied hurriedly. "I... I will be back soon. Bye." She said feeling a little embarrassed.

"Bye." He replied and disconnected the call.

~~~~~~

Khushi came home early as promised and saw Arnav waiting for her, ready to go out. She smiled seeing his eagerness.

"All set to go already? You must be really bored sitting in the house."

"Easy for you to say. You were not the one locked up in the room all day being given sleeping pills slyly." He rolled his eyes.

"Slyly?" Khushi raised an eyebrow.

"What would you say about dissolving pills in the Dal?" He asked.

She smiled and turned away. "I'll freshen up in 10 minutes and then we'll leave."

~~~~~~

"That's the club where Dad and I used to come to play tennis." Arnav pointed out.

"So you used to spend most of your time here?" Khushi asked looking around eagerly as Arnav pointed out various places to her.

"Ummm... mostly holidays..." He answered as they drove on. "And this is the park where Dadi used to bring me and Di as kids." He pointed out.

It was a beautiful park and Khushi wanted to see it up close. "Can you stop? I want to go in."

"Now?" He asked a little surprised and she nodded.

They went inside and walked around on the pebbled pathways. Apart from the play area the park had beautiful flowers blooming of various colours. Khushi gasped and clutched at Arnav's arm as they stopped at a patch of red roses.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Khushi gushed admiring the flowers. But Arnav hardly heard or understood anything else, his full concentration on Khushi's hands on his arm. Khushi was too lost admiring the park to realise what she was doing, unconsciously she wound her arm in his and began walking and all Arnav could do was stare at her smiling face as she praised the lovely plants and flowers in excitement.

As they moved outside the park towards their car, he halted. Khushi looked at him questioningly.

"Um... you go and sit in the car," He said handing her the car keys. "I'll come in a few minutes."

"But where are you going?" She asked puzzled.

"Don't worry I'll be right back." He said and urged her towards the car. She shrugged, went to the car and sat waiting for him.

He came back in five minutes. "Here, this is for you." He said handing her a large bunch of long stemmed red roses.

Khushi's face lit up and she looked at him surprised. "How did you manage to get them? You are not allowed to pluck flowers in the park."

"I didn't pluck them." He smiled. "I'm just friendly with the gardener."

"But..." She didn't know what to say.

"What's wrong? You were so happy when you saw the roses in the park. I thought you must really like them." He said uncertainly.

"Um... No... I mean yes... yes I love them. But... you shouldn't have..." She said not meeting his eyes. She felt really nice that he had got the roses for her but it was hard for her to accept the fact.

"If you love them then most certainly I should have." He said simply and started the car. Khushi just looked at him all the while, the fragrance of the roses making her feel a little light headed.

"Thank you." She said after a while. "They're amazing."

"I'm glad you liked them." He said relieved.

"How could anyone not like them? They are beautiful." She said caressing the velvety petals.

"Not as beautiful as you though." He said gently running his knuckles along her cheek.

Khushi caught herself blushing, her skin heating up and glowing red under his touch. She realised he had stopped the car and looked around to distract herself. "Why have we stopped? Anything special about this place?"

"I think we had a long enough drive now." He replied.

She was instantly worried and turned towards him. "Why, what happened? Are you feeling dizzy again? Do you have a pain in your head? What's wrong?" She panicked.

"Khushi relax. I'm fine." He said pleased with her reaction. "I was just trying to imply that we should eat now. It's getting late."

"Oh... Okay." She said letting out a long breath. "Yeah let's go."

~~~~~~

The restaurant was a cosy one with lovely live music playing and couples dancing. As Arnav and Khushi sat chatting casually over dinner about Arnav's childhood memories, Khushi's eyes drifted towards the dancing couples. It was only after Khushi had completely ignored what ever he was saying for two whole minutes that Arnav realised that he no longer had her attention. He followed her eyes and saw her watching the couples dance longingly.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked and she nodded without realising it, still looking at the dance floor.

He stood up and held out his hand, "Come..."

She looked up at him in surprise, "What? No... I was just... It's fine..." She said getting flustered.

He held her hand then and she looked into his eyes. He was looking at her intently, almost creating a hypnotic effect. "Come." He said again and she just stood up and followed him, incapable of doing anything else.

It was Deja vu for both of them as Khushi's arms snaked around his neck and Arnav's around her waist. All the memories from Mumbai, came flooding at once. The lights, the sea shore, the salty wind, the party, their dance, her beauty, his possessiveness... It was like reliving everything again.

Time stopped as Khushi raised her eyes to look into molten honey pools. She found herself drowning in its depths. She was barely moving her feet as he lead the dance. It felt like she would melt at any moment, firstly due to his hypnotic heated gaze and then his burning touch. She remembered again that it was in Mumbai itself that she had felt like that when he touched her, as if her skin was being scorched. Everything else faded and went out of focus... it was just his eyes looking into hers... with so much love, care, passion that she wasn't sure if she could bear it all... it was his touch... though it was just around her waist, it made her feel as if each and every cell of her body had come to life, buzzing with electricity... it was HIM... engulfing her in himself so securely that all she could do was let go of all her reservations and just lose herself into the feeling of HIM... She was lost...

And Arnav...

He was just beyond everything... so many emotions... it was hard to express in words. But one thing he couldn't deny... After a long, long time... he felt... ALIVE!!! Nothing else mattered to him, except for the fact that Khushi was here with him... right now... at this moment. That was the only truth that mattered and everything else was just a mirage. He knew they still have a long way to go but all that could wait. Today was his. And he wanted to live this moment to the fullest... he wanted to lose himself in her hazel eyes. Her eyes... that were looking at him and only him as if there was nothing else more important in this world to look at... He didn't know if she realised that she was caressing his nape with her finger tips or was it just an unconscious gesture. But it felt Divine... Blissful... He was happier than he had been in days... months... probably years... It was more than he had ever expected of life since the grave mistake that he had committed. At the moment only one thing mattered... Khushi...

The music stopped and everyone clapped for the musicians, breaking their trance somewhat. Both of them blinked a few times and stepped back as they looked at each other. Khushi blushed and looked down while Arnav was still not able to look away from her. They came back to their table to complete their dinner.

The drive back home was a quiet one with both Arnav and Khushi lost in their own thoughts. While Arnav was happy in the moment, Khushi was confused. It was all mind boggling for her and after a point she decided to give up thinking and just let it be.

As they walked back in the home, Khushi looked at Arnav sideways, "Are you okay?" She asked softly.

He looked at her wondering why she was asking him that.

"I mean are you feeling dizzy or exhausted or anything?" She elaborated and he realised that she was still worried about his health, making him feel warmer than he was feeling already.

"I'm fine Khushi. Honestly." He replied.

~~~~~~

When Arnav came out after changing into his night clothes, he saw Khushi arranging the roses that he had given her earlier in a vase on the coffee table. A small smile lingered on her lips as she looked at the flowers lovingly. When she was done, she gently ran her hand over the flowers only to be covered by his hand. She turned to look at him smiling.

"Thank you once again for the flowers Arnav."

"You don't have to thank me for anything Khushi. I am your husband. There is so much that I am supposed to give you. These flowers are nothing in comparison to that." He said holding her hand in both of his. "In fact I am the one who is supposed to thank you. For accepting these flowers, for coming out with me today, for giving me the most memorable and best evening of my life. Thank you Khushi... thank you so much..."

As if it had its own mind, Khushi's other hand moved on top of their hands... just resting there... sealing their bond...

Awhile later Khushi looked away feeling a little conscious, though there hands were still entwined. She looked around nervously and her eyes fell on the large photo frame that was hanging on the wall behind their bed...

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Chapter 41: The Divine Experience

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P.S. My Prince Charming will be updated on Monday...