The Contract of Hearts (Last Part Updated Pg.97) - Page 4

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part XIII: THE CONFLICT OF CHOICES

Sameer was taking his leave from Nani and Di. "Thanks for inviting me today. It was a real treat meeting all of you and catching up on those good old days with Khushi." Turning to Khushi, he said, "I'll drop you and Payal Jiji on my way home."

"Khushi, challen hum?" Payal had to reiterate twice before she received any response from Khushi who was floating on a carpet of dreams occasioned by the sudden and earth-shattering announcement made by ASR that he would celebrate her birthday.

Khushi literally fell out of her seat while dining when she heard ASR making this announcement. She even pinched herself to make sure it was the Laad Governor who spoke like this. She had everything she ever wanted in life.

Khushi sent up a soulful prayer to Devi Maiyya her close friend and confidant, "Yeh sach hain na Ma? Us din, us pal jab main aur woh saath honge, main usse kabhi nahi bhulungi. Main ne jo manga tah tumne dehdiya. Kaise teri sukriya adha karun, Ma? Hum hamesha saath rahen aisa var dehdijiye. Mujhe aur kuch nahi chahiye, Ma!"

Maiyya smiled her inscrutable smile from the world above and thought to herself, "Of course! You have wished for a big list. You think that's what is going to happen. You wait and see! Even I need my entertainment, don't I?"

Sameer to ASR on the contract they were about to sign, "Had enough of fun! So the real work for which I came to India, the deal into which we are about to enter, when do we meet up for that?

ASR, glad to see some good sense and commitment to work prevailing in Sameer who had till now shown no interest in it, replied, "Khushi has just now informed me that she had coordinated with the legal advisors of our company regarding this matter. If we discuss the terms and conditions beforehand on Saturday, we can clinch the deal on Monday. Is that fine with you?"

Sameer heartily agreed, "Perfectly fine! So we discuss the terms on Saturday, celebrate Khushi's birthday on Sunday, and sign the deal on Monday. Good use of time for both the professional and personal."

On Saturday, the meeting had gone on perfectly without a single hitch. Khushi had managed everything so perfectly that even ASR, who was an expert in fault-finding and error spotting, was forced to appreciate and acknowledge her good work; while Sameer literally could not stop himself from complimenting dear friend Khushi's managerial, executive, administrative, trouble-shooting and what not abilities.

Khushi's face was brimming with the broadest of smiles. Now she could sit back and enjoy her birthday party. She had never anticipated anything so much in her life. She always took life as it came. "But this is an exception! A birthday party, specially organized for her, by the love of her life, who for the first time in his life, would display what he felt for her. Could things actually get better?" she thought.

Both ASR and Khushi were lost in their respective reveries about the next day when they were interrupted in their tracks by a long distance international call. ASR seemed very angry and upset on hearing the news conveyed at the other end. Khushi enquired, "What's the matter? You seem so disturbed! Whose call was it?"

"I have to go to Singapore tomorrow in connection with the organization of our event, Sparkles 2011" replied ASR after a long pause.

"But you were supposed to go for this meeting after one week. Why suddenly tomorrow?" Khushi aghast at the very thought that ASR would be away on her special day. Celebration or no celebration did not mean a thing to her now. If only, he would not go? If only he would stay? Her mind was bursting with a thousand ifs. But she knew what the answer to all these ifs would be from his side.

Arnav was trying to convince her, "You know I would have avoided it if I could. But I cannot and you know that. In all these years, AR has never failed in any of its business commitments."

Khushi's heart was torn to a thousand bits by ASR's words. So AR could not fail its clients, but her Arnav could fail her on her most important day when all she wanted was just him beside her?

(Will ASR make it to Khushi's birthday?)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part IV: THE JALEBI NIGHT

Di used to say "Jab woh tere zindagi mein ayegi, toh tumhe patha bhi nahi chalega. Woh tumhari zindagi ban jayegi, teri sanse ruk jayegi, uske bina tum ji nahi pawoge." Arnav had scoffed at the idea at that time. But now he knew how true those words were.

Life had never seemed so complicated for Khushi, battling with tumultuous emotions and passions about which she hardly knew. Devi Maiyya had always protected her from ever danger, every mistake she ever committed. But could she save her from herself? Khushi Kumari Gupta's life of simple joys and sorrows had been turned upside down ever since she had met the Raakshas. She was still unsure about the tremendously incoherent feelings she was experiencing.

Both of them were still in a daze unable to take their eyes from each other when they arrived at the party venue. Mr. Malhotra's PR was ready to receive ASR and his fiance with all the alacrity, importance and fear attached to the arrival of such a high, mighty, mercurial and moody personality like the fashion tycoon was rumored to be by the inner circles of Page 3.

The man was already shivering in his shoes. Mr. Malhotra's flight was late and the guests had already started arriving. He could manage the rest, but ASR was in a different league altogether. Moreover Mr. Malhotra had asked him to take "special care about the couple until his arrival as they were very important to him".

ASR enquired the PR, "Mr. Malhotra is here?" his eyebrows raised in enquiry at the conspicuous absence of his host. "SSSir's flight has been dddelayed bbbut he will meet you as sssoon as he aaarrives. We have organized this NNNite with the ccconcept "Ek Shyam Lucknow ke Nam". As you know, Mr. Malhotra is also from LLLucknow, and literally loves the LLLucknowi way of life and culture", he stammered helplessly and rather hesitantly for fear of the fashion tycoon taking offence about this lapse on their part.

The PR continued, "SSSameer Sir has been abroad for ssseveral years but he believes that hhhowever high one flies in the skies of ambition, one should never ffforget one's rrroots. Many of SSSir's important ccclients and ffforeign delegates are expected today. We have named this the JJJalebi Night to give it that unique LLLucknowi ffflavor. We have made all arrangements, SSSir, to make this night the experience of a lifetime fffor both of you." Whew! Quite an explanation thought Arnav!

The sprawling country guest house of Mr. Malhotra was transformed and lit up by the huge chandeliers, and earthern lamps, Lucknowi isshtyle. They were welcomed in the Shahi andaaz, with sandal wood paste, kumkum ka tikka, and sprinkling of rose water by beautiful women dressed in old world fashion of the Nawabs. The reminiscence and nostalgia which the entire scene evoked transported them to another world.

"Aayiye huzur, tashreef layiye"

"Bring the what-", said Arnav sounding very astonished at the whole spectacle.

Khushi intervened telling, "They are asking us to come in, in a polite manner. But then, you will never know these things because you hardly know the ABC of etiquette."

Arnav sighed, "Ah! There you go launching on your tirade against me!" and said aloud, "Will you shut up your mouth for some time! We are here in the midst of high society people. For God's sake don't make a fool of yourself at least for my sake. I, ASR, have some reputation. See that you maintain it throughout our contract."

Khushi interrupted, "What again my haisiyat? When will you stop bringing it in our discussions?"

Arnav whispered angrily to Khushi, "Shush! People think that we are a couple. Let's maintain it for the sake of appearances. Got it!"

They were led into the lawn where a huge campfire was lit, and the poets were entertaining the guests with their Sher-o-Shyari, and the musicians were enthralling the audience with their melodious and intricate ghazals.

"Arz kiya hai -------- "and blah blah blah

Khushi was drinking into all this with a wonder-struck expression as if she was back in her dear home town attending a fiesta, while ASR was peeved with the whole set up. "What sort of nonsense is this?" He thought.

"SSSir, would you like to bbbuy sssome gifts for Mam? We have organized fffor the latest collection of antique jjjewellery and CCChickan kadi dresses for which LLLucknow is famous", suggested the PR to divert the growing discontentment he saw in ASR's eyes.

True! Their clients and foreign delegates were enjoying every bit of this, but ASR was too important for them to antagonize or displease. He still had not the slightest idea why Sameer Sir was bent upon inviting a man like ASR who would neither take pleasure in all this nor allow the others to enjoy this.

"Yes! Anything than this Sher-o-Shayiri?" thought ASR.

Khushi was having a whale of a time ransacking the whole collection. This could very well be the first and last gift she would get from ASR. Why not gift(s) from ASR instead of a gift, thought she with a wicked smile?

"Bhaiyya,yeh kadda dhikhayiye? Aur yeh neeli chunari? Yeh kali rang ki sadi toh bahut khubsurat hai. Aur yeh set is sadi ke sath toh bilkul match kar raha hai." ASR sighed. He never knew that ladies could not be trusted when it came to shopping of clothes and jewels. He was having first-hand experience of the whole concept, thanks to Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta!

"If you are done with your shopping, can we proceed for dinner? I am very hungry", interrupted Arnav in the full flow of KKG's shopping spree.

"SSSir we have an elaborate and mmmeticulously laid-out DDDastarkhwan set out for all our guests with the finest of Awadhi dddelicacies with a meal fffit for the NNNawabs and KKKings" said the poor PR torturing his tonsils another time the same night.

"I was asking about the dinner not that Dakwin, Dockin or whatever strange thing it is" explained Arnav practicing patience too unusual to his ordinary nature.

"That's precisely what he is telling us" said Khushi astonished at ASR's lack of minimum knowledge about the Lucknowi way of life which was like life breath to her. They reached the dining hall led by the fumbling and bumbling PR who was literally cursing his predicament in attending to the great ASR whom he could neither please nor afford to displease

"Hello we can't eat here. Where do we sit?" ASR squealed in utter amazement at this complete lack of arrangements while inviting clients and foreign delegates.

"In a tttraditional LLLucknow dinner, the ggguests are seated on the fffloor on these embroidered dddastarkhwans which are spread on dddares and white ccchandnis (white sheets). WWWe also rrretained it to gggive our ggguests a uuunique fffeel and authenticity of the whole JJJalebi NNNight." The PR by this time half-faint after all the explaining he had managed to do in his faltering and stammering tone.

"To hell with you and your Jalebi Night! You have the nerve to suggest that I, ASR, sit on the floor for my dinner" roared the Lion Singh Raizada while the poor man would have hid under the white chandnis spread for the guests for the dinner if not for the iron lady i.e. our own KKG accompanying ASR.

Five minutes later, ASR and KKG were seated enjoying the finest dishes of Awadhi cuisine with the serving of jalebis in Khushi's plate happening on an infinite scale. ASR's appetite was filled with the very sight of his lady love pouncing upon jalebis with a vengeance. Arnav heaved a sigh of relief when she was done with when they heard a voice telling, "Hogaya kya, Jalebi Bai, ya aur laavun tere liye"

(Coming up next ASR huva talli with bhaang and his Sher-o-Shayari on our dear KKG)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part VIII: KHOYA KHOYA SA ARNAV AUR KHUSHI

Khushi had walked straight into the arms of ASR who had just entered. Both of them fell on top of each other and her hair which she had tied up in a bun came out loose and fell all over his face. Both their hearts started pounding madly. The blood started coursing up their veins and a feeling of pleasurable excitement and arousal shot up their spines.

Arnav gently pushed her hair aside but continued staring at her hazel eyes and sandalwood-smeared face as though transfixed in time and space. One naughty strand of her hair seemed to find its way to his face again and again as though it wanted to caress him.

Khushi started feeling the goose bumps caused by their embarrassing situation. But Arnav seemed to be lost in a luminous and dazzling dream from which he never wanted to wake up. Why he came here and what he wanted to say to her before the dinner was all forgotten in the beauty of the moment. Curse this small chit of a girl who seemed to arouse the most raging emotions which stirred beneath his breast!

"Ouch!" shrieked Khushi in pain.

"What happened?" enquired ASR in a kind and concerned manner totally contrary to his usual demeanor with her. He never could see her even in the slightest pain.

"Looks like the some of the sandalwood has gone into my eyes" replied Khushi.

"Show me your eyes. I'll try to blow out the speck", Arnav coming closer to her and blowing a hot, moist and soothing puff of air into her eyes. Their eyes met each other and their breaths touched each other's lips. So close to each other they were. This must be heaven on earth thought KKG.

Khushi instinctively closed her eyes and her throat started shivering in the ecstasy of a moment into which she had been unknowingly and unwittingly sucked into. "Is it gone?" Arnav quite disturbed seeing her in pain.

KKG had recovered herself by this time and wanted to avoid a second puff of air because she knew she would not be able to control herself the second time. ASR was still not ready to acknowledge what he really felt for her in his full senses. She would have to wait for some more time for the Iron Man of AR to melt fully and inexorably.

"I'll wash my face! Don't worry?" Khushi replied.

"Why shouldn't I? You are writhing in pain" Arnav disappointed that this moment had ended so soon. His heart was asking for more but his mind had already sent the message, "Enough of fooling now! Get down to the message you came to give her. Tell her to erase yesterday night from her memory and that the contract would remain the same!"

"Let me help you wash-----" Both of them had put their hands at the same time to open the washbasin tap. Their fingers touched each other burning them with the pangs of unquenched longing and desire.

KKG washed her face while ASR stared at her with unblinking eyes. After finishing it, Khushi suggested, "Shall we have coffee? You wanted to talk to me about something important? We'll discuss it over a cup of coffee!"

'Challo Maiyaa ke Bhavan Bhavan Bhavan, Challo Maiyaa ke Bhavan Bhavan Bhavan' rang the irritating instrument at this very moment.

"Sameer, tum?" Khushi quite pleasantly surprised to receive a call from her childhood friend.

"Payal Jiji ghar par hain? Main unse aur Buaji seh bath karna chatha hoon. Kaise hain sab ghar pe?" Sameer explaining the purpose of his call.

"Jiji aur Buaji mandir gaye hain. Main boldungi ke tumne phone kiya thah" Khushi replied.

"Matlab, tum ghar par akeli ho?" Sameer little bit inquisitively

"Nahin! ASR mere sath hain" Khushi corrected him.

"Oh! Ho! Akele main waqt bitharahi ho apni boyfriend ke sath! Theek hai main kabbab main haddi banna nahi chahtha. Raktha hoon. Buaji ko mere pranam bol dena" Sameer teasing dear friend Khushi.

Khushi turning back saying, "Main ek minute main coffee laayi aur hum bath------" when she found herself staring at the duppatta she had left yesterday night at the Raizada house on the sofa and an open door with the air whistling in.

(Coming up next ASR ki jhallan and Khushi ki birthday ke mauke par ASR ko jana padega business trip par)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part XXV: THE CLASH OF TITANS

At last, the maha torture of a Kavi Sammelan came to a close. ASR gruffly said to Khushi, "Shall we go if you've had your fill of kavita? It's already late!"

Maan was escorting Geet while ASR was attending to Khushi when BK from Chickmunji made his appearance.

"Khushiji, aapka koi jawab nahin kyonki aap laajawaab ho!" BK in a mood for flirting at this late night hour. ASR looked daggers at him, but controlled himself from exploding at this liberty which BK seemed to be taking with Khushi.

BK in an equally heroic mood, "Aankh kya dhikha rahe ho? Apne aap ko bahut bada hero samajthe hoh kya? Khushiji kiske saath baath karthi hai woh tair karne wale tum kaun hote ho? Tum sher toh main sava sher!

"Ignore Arnav!" Arnav trying to cool himself down , "This dude is not worth it!"

Khushi trying to handle an explosive situation with care "Bhaaveshji aaj ke liye hum jaa rahen hain! Kal milthen hain."

Bhaavesh not giving up, "Aise kaise? Hum aapke saath hai! Hum donon ke beech ek pratyogitha honi chahiye. Agar main jeetha toh tum mujhe Khushiji seh milne seh nahin rokhoge, agar tum jeethe toh main hamesha hamesha ke liye unke zindagi seh chale jaunga!

"Done! Kya karna hoga? Kick boxing? Bike riding? Car racing? Tum jo kahoge main uskeliye tayyar hoon!" Arnav roared.

"Toh theek hai! Tumhe mujhe golgappe khane main harana hoga woh bhi theeki wali!" BK from Chickmunji challenged.

"Yeh kaisi competition hai? Aur yahan Singapore main golgappe ke stall kahan milenge?" ASR grumbled.

"Uski chintha tum math karo! Main uski vyavastha karlunga! Tumne mujhe jo chahiye woh chunneko kaha tah.Toh tumko mujhe mere hisaab seh harana hoga!" BK reminded ASR about his words.

The competition between the two men started. BK from ChIckmunji seemed to be a very expert hand at golgappa gorging, ASR was also trying his best but being used to soft, delicate and dainty food dishes, he was tearing up unable to bear the spicy nature of this food item.

Maan was encouraging ASR, "Come on ASR! You can do it!"

Geet was acting as though she was appreciating BK, while Khushi stood neutral between them supporting none!

Maan counted, "Fifty!"

BK was still going strong, while ASR was weakening terribly. His eyes were overflowing with tears. What kept him going was his pure will power and his love for Khushi . How could he afford to lose a challenge with her at stake!

Things were hotting up, and Geet counted, "Seventy!"

ASR was about to place another gol gappa into his mouth when Khushi stopped him saying "Ruk jaiyye!"

She continued, "Who are you two to decide my fate? Eating even a hundred gol gappas will not prove a single thing except that you two have huge tummies and gorging abilities. I was wrong in the first place to even allow such a thing to happen! It's my life and I make all my decisions independent of any such foolish games!"

Looking at ASR she asked, "At least you should have known better! What was the necessity to participate in this tomfoolery? Somebody says something and you act in this fashion before thinking twice!"

ASR was reluctant to give up because he hated losing a challenge however silly it was. He had been used to winning all his life that he was afraid of accepting defeat for the first time in life.

Khushi was getting very angry, "If you lose, you lose! What's the big deal? This victory or defeat will make no difference to me! People who are dear to me, will remain dear to me irrespective of either possibility."

ASR gave up and said to BK, "You've won!" Arnav could see that she was literally in tears seeing him in pain. Though he could bear a thousand times more pain for her sake, he could not see her in tears! Her entire face brightened up when she saw that he had given up. For the first time in life ASR felt that even defeat was worth it when he saw her smiling happily.

BK too seemed extremely corky and pepped up by what he regarded as a moral victory against the powers of evil. He warned, "Ab aaya uunt pahaad ke neeche! Dubara mere rasthe mein cross math karna, varna------" and left the place extremely satisfied with his valour.

That night, in his room, ASR was suffering from acidity caused by the spicy gol gappas he had eaten. His entire tongue was still burning even after an hour after that competition. Tuck tuck! Khushi was knocking the door which separated his suite from hers. Arnav opened the door.

Khushi was angry with him about the entire episode, "Koi pagal hi aisa kartha hai! Tum theeki cheesen nahin kathe ho, toh woh sab khane ki kya zarurath thi?"

Arnav replied, "Pagal toh hoon hi, aur tum bhi janthi ho kiskeliye!"

Khushi blushed a deep red hearing those words. It was only then she realized that she had come to his room to give him some honey and an ajwain wali khada to relieve his pain. She gave them to him.

Arnav glanced at them and asked her, "Honey is okay, but do I have to drink the khada as well?"

Khushi remonstrated Arnav saying, "Arnav-----". He quietly took the honey and drank the khada without making any fuss.

The next morning, both Arnav and Khushi and Maan and Geet were having a pleasant morning walk on the beach. After some time, ASR and Maan sat down, while Khushi and Geet were ambling around aimlessly lost in deep conversation.

Geet was encouraging Khushi saying, "I know you're upset about yesterday night. But didn't yesterday show us that ASR cares for you so much?"

"But Didi, I always knew that! I didn't need any proof for that. His eyes and actions have always told me how much he loves me though he has never said it in so many words" Khushi remarked.

She continued, "You know Di, some time back, we went to a party organized by my childhood friend and his Canada business partner. It was called the Jalebi Night and was themed on the Lucknowi way of life. You know what happened, ASR drank bhaang and started telling Sher-o-Shayari on me. The poetry was somewhat in the same league as that of Bhaavesh Kumar from Chickmunji!"

"Don't tell me ASR told Sher-o-Shayari on you a-la BK from Chickmunji" Geet said laughing her heart out!

"Yes! What was it-------'Koi machchar joh chusstha hai meri dhil ki dhadkan; ya koi chooha joh mere dhil mein chupkar baahar aane ka nam hi nahi letha; ya thum ek accident ho joh meri zindagi banchuki hoh; ya tum woh hoh ziske sath mera dhil se dhil ka rishta hai; kya tum sirf meri ho jisse is duniyaki koi bhi takkat juda nahi kar sakti; kya tum meri duva hoh ya sazha; kya hoh tum mere liye?'"

Geet said, "How sweet! Though memorable in itself, this Sher-o-Shayari really shows the difference in character and the genuineness of love between both ASR and BK!"

Khushi agreed, "Yes! Remember the excellent kavitas of BK from Chickmunji------ 'Main ne zindagi bhar jisse talash kiya, woh talash khattam hui, kyunki talash mujse haffa hui aur main ne talash ko beech rasthe chod diya, aur unse samjautha kar liya joh mujhe bina talash ke mil gayi!'------He is not the one who will stand with me in my time of need. At the first sign of problems, he is going to desert me. He spent a long time searching for that special person, but when he didn't find that person, he was willing to settle down with somebody who was easily accessible and available. While ASR in his Sher-o-Shayari made me, whom he had just accidentally met, into his very life."

"What were the other memorable kavitas of BK?-------Han! Got it! --------'Har pal teri soch jab mujhe pukarti hai toh main khud ko kahin ghira hua patha hoon, kyonki main duniya ka sabse gira hua insaan hoon, fir sochtha hoon ke nayi sire se suru karoon, magar kaise akkal ayegi aise akal ke andho ko?' This man is practically blind and mad. He is in love with the concept of love, not really in love with me. Moreover he has unconsciously accepted the fact that he is the most 'gira hua insaan'. Even if I reject him tomorrow, he is not going to mop over it. Initially I felt bad for using him in our formulae, but after listening to his kavitas, I lost all my opinion about him. I believe a human being always tells the truth when he is drunk or when he is reciting poetry because in both cases, the innermost thoughts of a person are revealed."

Geet concurred with Khushi's opinion, "Don't give that chap a thought! He is so self-engrossed. He wants you in his life so that he can give all his responsibilities to you and live in a care-free manner-----'Tum bahut yaad aate ho raat ki tanhaayi mein, kyonki agar tum hothi toh mere upar chadhar odhlethi, dhoop mai chalte chalte jab saaya nahi miltha, tum bahut yaad aate ho, kyonki agar tum hothi toh mere liye chatha pakkad lethi, shaam dhalte suraj mein jab akela baazar ghumtha hoon tum bahut yaad aate ho, kyonki agar tum hothi toh mera bag pakkad lethi!' He is just thinking about chadars, chathas, and bags. He is the most superficial and trivial person I've ever seen!"

"Ha! Ha! Ha! So ASR scores marks over BK even in Sher-o-Shayari!" Geet laughingly joked.

"Of course, Di! For ASR, though I'm a 'machar', I've made a mark on his 'dhil ki dhadkan'. I rule over his heart as his unrivalled queen, while to BK I would be an unpaid honorary servant. He has called me a 'chooha' because come what may, he can never evict me from his heart. BK, the lesser said the better! Even though our meeting in Lucknow was accidental, it was the most important event in his life according to Arnav. I'm his life, his boon, his punishment, his everything. For BK, only he comes first!" Khushi explained.

"Very true! You will never see anybody like ASR again in your life. Even though he is taking his own sweet time to confess, his love for you is undisputed and eternal!" Geet opined.

Meanwhile at the other end, ASR was watching the unending stream of waves. Maan felt sorry for ASR and his condition. He felt a brotherly affection for him. He remarked, "Watching the waves? They tell us an important lesson in life. Each wave withdraws a little and comes back as though confessing it can go back no more. Our life and heart are also like that. If we confess when we have to, after withdrawing a little bit so that we can think, then there will be no problem. But if we refuse the dictates of our heart, and keep on withdrawing farther and farther, one day it will return like a tsunami wave leaving just destruction in its wake. It's up to us to decide what we want in life: beauty or destruction?"

ASR was touched by Maan's words. They held the most profound truth of life in a nut-shell.

(To be continued with Arnav dancing with Khushi out of jealousy and confession of love by Arhi)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part XVI: IN THE DEPTHS OF HIS HEART

"Okay now I think I have to get going!" Arnav remarked to Khushi, waking up from the sweet dream in which both of them were lost.

"It's still raining! And you do look a perfect mess! I'll bring you a towel and some dry clothes." Khushi replied. "You can go after it stops raining."

"All right!" agreed Arnav slumping down into the sofa. He was terribly exhausted with the day's events. Lethargy and laziness had set in by this time.

Khushi took the candle he had lit along with her inside her room and came out with a towel and a grey coloured kurtha pyjama, courtesy her deceased phuphaji's.

"Do I have to wear that bed sheet?" Arnav asked laughing a loud throated laugh.

"Yes! And for your kind information it is not a bed sheet but Phuphaji's clothes" Khushi miffed with his remarks. The old man would have been turning in his grave to hear those comments on his dressing sense while it was really irking the fashion tycoon, ASR, to wear an obnoxious garment like the one KKG held before his eyes.

Having no option, Arnav swallowed his pride and changed into those antique garments not worn for ages together by anybody.

"Now time for some Kaada making or else you will catch cold!" Khushi said sternly.

"If I knew I would have all this waiting for me if I came here, I would have stayed back at Singapore", said Arnav who disliked this bitter drink to the core.

Even in his childhood whenever he got wet in the rain, his mother would twist his ears and make him gulp down that drink. "Tum bilkul meri Ma jaisi ho!" Arnav spoke after a long pause.

Those days when he would not sleep without hearing his bed-time story--------the sweet lullaby his mother sang caressing him and rocking him to sleep-------her annoyed expression whenever his teachers reported about his bunking the school to watch the noon show of Amitab Bachan's movie-----------how he loved to eat pani puri at Annaji's stall beside his school-----------the numerous festivities in his ancestral house where his mother had a tough time in preventing him from touching the prasad she had prepared as Bhog---------old memories came crowding one after the other.

"You never told me any of this!" Khushi quite surprised. "How come you never told me any of this? And if I remind you of your mother, why did you use to hate me when we first met?"

"Because she left me when I needed her the most!" Arnav replied "I blame her for everything I lost! My childhood------my innocence-------my belief--------my faith! I grew up too early in life! I feel afraid to love-------------" his voice trailing off leaving the sentence unfinished.

Khushi felt a lump in her throat. She now knew why he was like this! She would give him everything he had lost in life! She would bring back the beauty of that childhood without its pain!

(To be continued with ASR and KKG to meet MSK and Geet at Singapore for Sparkles 2011)

Thanks all of you for your appreciation. Never knew I could write something like an OS a few months earlier. But with Arhi, inspiration seems to be pouring out on its own. Will update soon. Have a lot of story planned up for the future including a kick in the back for Shyam, the two-timing leech from ASR.

I really should thank the creators of IPKKND for making such a wonderful show with all the elements necessary to make it a hit. Without the ground work in terms of story and characterization which the show has already given us I would never have been able to write or even think about this FF on Arhi. Flying on the seventh heaven with the love all of you have shown for The Contract of Hearts. Will update as early as possible.

Sorry for the late replies BUT I have read all the parts. And THANK YOU sooo much for all the PM's😊

Btw, Part 17 was sweet but the end was funny

"Yawn!"----------- "Yawn!"

Sameer laughingly remarked, "What ? Both of you did not sleep last night?"

Arnav groaned, "How many more times will our destiny keep telling us that we are like mirror reflections of each other? Just when I wanted to give up, this--------Arnav, imagine your condition next week in Singapore with just the two of you together! "

LOL, seems like even Sameer can tell the similarities between the love birds😳

Part 18: This part was good but it was better when Arnav realised that he had gone overboard with his insecurities related to Khushi. That was funny. But the ending was even better; they both only had one suite to share but two bedrooms😔 Oh well.

Part 19: I loved the entire dead person story. How convenient that the room Khushi had was the one the girl died in, but later on changed to Arnav's room. Will work either way😛. It was very sweet of Arnav to sleep with Khushi in the room - not on the bed though. 😆😉

Part 20: Maan's entry was great, loved it how it mentioned that the love birds complement each other and Geet's entry was awesome as well. Very surprised . Seems like Geet has already observed the distance between Arnav and Khushi

Part 21: Finally I'm up to date with all the updates =) I ABSOLUTELY love the formulas. to which both Geet and Khushi together replied, "Bhaavesh, from Chickmunji, pahadi ke peeche, neele aasmaan ke neeche!" Epic entry of Bhaavesh- the baakri. And only Baba Ji knows what will happen to Arnav and Khushi's love story 😍

😉

love it...very nice dear...

SOFA??? Damn! I was hoping for the bed hahaha
Loved the update...funny how the room service guy said
the story and wishes her a GOOD NIGHT! lol
Really nice update...love the shower part...