Chapter 16
He had tried to reach her before she hit the ground. But the drinks he had had last night and no sleep had made his reflexes that much more sluggish.
He saw her sprawled on the floor and went to pick her up but again, it seemed he had no strength left in him so he just sat down next to her, lifted her head, put it on his lap and sat there softly caressing her hair.
He could care for her could he not? Then why did this heart beat a little faster with merely her presence? Why did he yearn to hold her in his arms?
Why could he not shake this feeling that he had jumped to some conclusion hastily?
Why did he suddenly regret asking Lavanya to marry him?
Would he be able to keep away from her even though it was not right?
Oh boy! he was in deep trouble.
Khushi stirred.
He called out her name like a litany hoping to make her come to her senses.
She mumbled something and opened her eyes to look at him. The love that shone in them was heart wrenching. He longed to gather her in his arms but he stopped himself. Knowing what his relation was with her, he could not do this to her or to him or to their families. This had to stop.
The minute she raised her head, he pushed away and sat at a little distance from her.
"Are you okay? Do you want some water?" he realized he should be giving her something. He got up and got water in a glass from the nearby kitchenette.
She gulped some water and then looked at him puzzled.
"You fainted, Khushi. Are you ok now?" He asked again.
Remembering what he had said last before the shock had hit her, her eyes widened.
"I can't be. I mean I am'" Khushi started.
"Your Amma is my maasi, and that makes you my cousin, my sister. What is not possible about this?" Arnav explained.
"I would tell you if can listen to someone before you get on your high horse and ride away Mr Raizada." Khushi sat up with her legs folded under her, hands on her hips and scowled at him.
"What's there to explain." Arnav insisted.
"There you go again. Mr Arnav Singh Raizada. Hear this and hear it well. You are not always right. Get it." Khushi accused.
"Who do you think you are to tell me, what i should and should not be doing? The fact is Garima Raizada Gupta is your mother and She is also my mother's twin sister. So our relationship cannot happen other than of course us being brother and sister. Now tell me if i am wrong." Arnav mimicked her stance and frowned at her.
"The fact is incomplete. She is my Amma but not my biological mother. Get it, Mr Dimwit Raizada?" She glowered with glee.
"She has never told me more than the fact that I am adopted but yes she is not my mother and you are not my brother." Khushi finished with finality.
Arnav slumped back in relief.
He did not know if he was happy or sad. He now had to get to the bottom of this. He had to talk to Garima Gupta about how she came to get Khushi as his daughter. What if Khushi was wrong. He could not handle a shock bigger than this.
He got up and gave his hand to Khushi to help her up who refused to take the hand and got up on her own.
He said, "Lets go to your mother. I want to talk to her. I need to know from her that this is true."
"Why?" Khushi asked.
"Because if you are not my sister, I'" Arnav stopped.
"It does not matter anymore Arnav Singh Raizada, you are engaged to be married. Congratulations. I hope I never see you again." And with that Khushi turned around and walked towards the door.
Now it was Arnav who came in-between the door and her, blocking her way.
"Arnav, please let me go." Khushi tried to reason with him
"No, not now, not ever." Arnav proclaimed.
"Ha! nice one. Who the hell do you think you are? Jab mann aaya, paas bula liya, jab mann aaya door kar diya? Tum ne jo socha, samjha apne hisaab se kiya. Mein bhi wahi kar rahi hoon. Toh mera raasta choro." Khushi retaliated.
"Khushi, what we have is wonderful. I know I lost my head when I saw your mother. I know but you can't leave like this. What about us?" he argued.
"What about us? There was no us and there will be no us. Do you even think about anyone else other than yourself? What about Lavanya? What are you going to tell your fiancee of one day that suddenly you have changed your mind? That suddenly you have fallen out of love with her? What about society?" She countered.
"I don't care about society." Arnav was not letting it go.
"But I do. I care that there is a woman who happens to be my friend too, who has agreed to marry you. You need to be committed to her rather than trying to '." Khushi spread her hands in an impotent gesture.
"Arnav, there is nothing left for us. You and I are not meant to be." Khushi then moved towards the door expecting him to move but he suddenly pulled her into his arms, turned her around and kissed her.
And everything tilted. Khushi felt herself melt with the onslaught of emotions that assailed her. And she kissed him back. She kissed him as if her life depended on it. She ran her fingers through his hair as he deepened the kiss and plundered her mouth as if it held the treasures he sought.
She whimpered her joy as he murmured how much he craved her, how much he wanted her. Arnav lifted her in his arms and carried to the couch to lay her down as he kissed her face, her eyes, her nose, her temple in feather light kisses that increased her desire rather than assuaging it.
He kissed her lips again, taking them gently this time to drink in her delicious taste, to feel their softness and asked her softly, "And this? Is this not meant Khushi? Do you think there is nothing left between us?" He slowly moved away to smile at her in victory.
Recovering from his assault on her senses, Khushi stared at him and then slapped him.
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Cricket
Jhanak
35