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Hello folkies! Here you go with the next installment. Let's see if you like it :-) (Nags, you wanted one today, right? ;-))
~Part 31~
Khushi lost track of the number of times she blushed with Anna's never-ending jibes while she made Khushi try out all the lehengas. But, Khushi realized she liked the woman - she was very warm, funny, and genuine. After the trials, Khushi changed and was walking up to Arnav's cabin when Payal came running down to hug her tightly. Khushi had only briefly spoken to her on the phone during the day and felt very good to be finally with Payal.
"Jiji" grinned Khushi.
Akash came down saying "Arre ek hafta bhi nahi hua aur itna drama?"
"Aap nahi samjhenge Akash sir" said Khushi "Aapke bhai aapse ek hafte ke liye duur ho toh hum samajh sakte hai ki aap khush hi honge"
"Please! Bhai itne bhi bure nahi hai. Aapko toh pata hi hona chahiye Khushi" smirked Akash. "Mujhe nahi lagta ki aap Bhai se ek hafta duur rehna chahengi.. Kyu?"
"Kya?" said Payal looking between them.
"Kuch nahi Jiji.. Ghar chale?"
"Haan chalo, aap dono ko der ho rahi thi toh Akash ji ne kaha ki woh hume le aayenge tumse milne" said Payal smiling at Akash.
Khushi felt her heart skip a beat when she saw Arnav coming down. She wondered when her heart will learn to deal with Arnav's presence normally. She had flashes of their intimacy in the changing room and she looked away from Arnav, flustered. She still needed time to think about what happened. What was happening to her? Why did she have no control over herself when he was around? If he had decided not to walk away, would they have continued? She shivered at the thought.
"Bhai meri gaadi maine waapis bhej diya toh hum sab saath mei ghar jaa sakte hai na?" said Akash cutting into her thoughts.
"Of course" said Arnav. "Khushi, aaj ke liye sab ho gaya, right? Hum nikal sakte hai na?"
"Haan sir" said Khushi looking at Arnav's chest. "nikal sakte hai"
"Let's go then" said Arnav to everyone before leading the way out. He noticed that Khushi was refusing to meet his eyes. He wondered when she would be able to come to terms with what was happening between them, when she would be able to get over her shyness after every time they shared some intimacy. On the other hand, he found her shyness very endearing, he thought, sighing.
Once they were home, the four of them sat with Anjali, Nani, Mami, and Mamaji and chatted for some time before Nani suggested that they go and freshen up after the day's work.
After Nani, Mami and Mamaji left, they were just lazing around for a bit when Anjali said "Oh Payal ji aapka saamaan Khushi ke kamre mei rakhvana toh hum bhool hi gaye. Bas woh chota bag jo aap subah jaldi mei lekar gayi thi wahi upar hoga. Suitcase toh staircase ke paas hi hoga."
"Arre hum leke denge Di" said Khushi getting up, but was pulled back coz her dupatta was stuck on the sofa.
"Aap rehne dijiye, hum leke denge" said Akash. "chaliye Payal, I'll drop it off"
Payal nodded and followed Akash out. Khushi was examining her dupatta to see if it was torn when Anjali said "Arre Khushi ye kya ho gaya?"
Khushi looked up to see Anjali staring at her neck concernedly. "Kya Di?" said Khushi and felt her neck with her fingers until she felt a small burning sensation when her fingers touched the tiny bruise which had become bright red. Her eyes widened and she blushed crimson when she remembered how that had happened. She covered her neck with the dupatta quickly saying "Er.. woh.. er.. kuch nahi Di.. kuch bhi toh nahi.."
"Arre kuch chot hai Khushi, dikhao hume" said Anjali and came and sat next to her and removed the dupatta.
Arnav just watched Khushi's embarrassment without offering to help in any way. Why should I? he thought. When she refuses to even meet my eyes. It's been two hours since she looked at me, he sulked inwardly. Suddenly, he was very annoyed with her behavior and decided that enough was enough.
"Kya hua Di?" said Arnav very seriously. Khushi blushed further, but still refused to look at him. Arnav felt his patience waning.
"Lagta hai kuch kaata yaha" said Anjali looking at the bruise. Khushi got up and adjusted her dupatta saying "Kuch nahi hai Di, hum upar jaate hai."
"Arre aise kaise? Dikhao mujhe" said Arnav getting up. Khushi went to walk past him when he held her by the shoulders and moved her dupatta to see the bruise.
Anjali raised an eyebrow at the show of familiarity between the two.
Arnav touched the bruise with his fingertip and said "Oh this one? Ye toh.." he started, turning to Anjali.
"Arnav!" exclaimed Khushi, grabbing his upper arm, staring at him in disbelief "Aap paagal ho gaye hai? Kya bol rahe hai aap?"
"Arnav?!" thought Anjali. "What did I miss?"
"Oh you can look at me now?" said Arnav turning to meet Khushi's eyes. She looked away immediately. Exasperated, he shook her by the shoulders saying "Khushi, what is wrong with you? You're trying to avoid me again. Maine kaha hai na tumse that I hate it?"
While she still had a hundred questions in her mind and a thousand things to tease the two of them about, Anjali thought she should probably leave them alone. She just hoped that they realize soon that they are standing in the living room. She got up and was about to walk away quietly when Arnav said without taking his eyes off Khushi "Di aapko kahin jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai"
Anjali stopped and looked at him, unsure.
Khushi was trying to struggle out of his grasp, but Arnav was past caring now. He spoke in a deathly calm voice.
"Khushi, maine tumse changing room mei bhi kahaa tha. What is there to hide? Tum wahi karti ho na jo tumhe sahi lagta hai? So, what are you feeling embarrassed about?"
Khushi felt like she wasn't ready for this conversation. And especially not here, like this, in front of Di. She tried to shake herself out of his hold saying "Arnav kya ho gaya hai aapko? Iss tarah.."
"Tumhe kya ho gaya hai Khushi? How can you blow hot and blow cold like this? I mean, after what happened between us less than two hours back, how can you behave like you don't even want to see my face?!"
"Arnav, please!" said Khushi, struggling. "Ye aap.."
"Chote" interrupted Anjali, deciding to intervene. "Iss waqt tum apne kamre mei jaao. Hum khud Khushi ko tumhaare paas bhejenge thodi der mei. Tab tum dono baat kar lena, lekin filhaal.."
"It's a hickey, Di." said Arnav quietly looking straight into Khushi's face "Aap iss chot ke baare mei pooch rahi thi na? On her neck? It's a hickey.. also called a love bite. That's what it is."
Khushi and Anjali went quiet, looking stunned. Arnav left Khushi's shoulders and started to walk away. He stopped after a couple of steps, turned to look at Anjali, and said "Oh, and I gave it to her" and turned around and walked off.
Anjali and Khushi stared in disbelief at Arnav's retreating back. Anjali wasn't sure what she should say. She wasn't even sure if she should look at Khushi. Khushi stood like that for a few moments before she shook herself out of her stupor and ran after Arnav. Anjali sighed and sat back down.
Arnav threw his blazer and waistcoat on the bed and had just begun to unbutton his shirt when his door burst open and Khushi walked in, red in the face. She turned and bolted the door and walked towards him.
"Aap samajhte kya hai apne aap ko?" she shouted.
"Kyu? Kya hua?" said Arnav, trying to sound calm.
"Aap kya karne ki koshish kar rahe the? Iss tarah Di ke saamne hume sharminda k.."
"Sharminda?" interrupted Arnav with barely controlled fury "Are you saying that you are ashamed of what happened between us? Tum sharminda ho uss baat se?"
"Humne aise kaha kya? Lekin har baat ka ek waqt aur ek jagah hota hai. Iss tarah Di ke saamne ye sab kehke kya mila aapko? Kya rishta hai humaare beech jo ye sab unhe theek lagega?"
"Koi rishta nahi hai humaare beech?" said Arnav quietly.
"Arnav, humaari har baat ka galat matlab nikaalna zaroori hai?"
"Tumhaari har baat? Khushi, humaari baat hi kahaa huyi? Tum mujhse baat karna toh duur nazar bhi nahi mila paa rahi ho." Arnav was struggling to keep his temper in check "Itna hi mai tumhe naapasand hu toh tum mujhe apne kareeb aane hi kyu deti ho? Obviously, I assumed we have a relationship since you've always let me.."
"Bas Arnav" said Khushi quietly, trying not to sound hurt. "Aapko hosh hi nahi hai ki aap kya bol rahe hai. Aapko kya lagta hai? Kyunki humne aapko apne kareeb aane diya toh aap samajhte hai.."
"Khushi" said Arnav softly and then sighed. "You're right. I didn't mean to say that." He ran his hands through his hair and then walked to her and pulled her into his arms, holding her close, and looking into her eyes. He sighed again.
"Dekho Khushi, I think hum dono ne jaldbaazi mei kaafi kuch keh diya. Let's do this right."
He hugged her again and stood like that for a few moments before pulling his head back to look into her eyes.
"Humaare beech kuch hai na? Tumhe bhi kuch mehsoos hota hai na?" he asked her softly.
Khushi looked at him for a moment and then nodded slowly, not trusting her voice.
Arnav smiled and said "Mujhe ye yaad hi nahi raha ki ye sab tumhaare liya kitna naya naya sa hoga. I don't know if you'll be surprised to hear ki jo mai tumhaare liye mehsoos karta hu, woh mere liye bhi naya hai. I've never felt this way before, but I like it."
Khushi felt her stomach do a flip flop when she heard him say that. She felt her eyes tear up a bit and she smiled at him. Arnav tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said "This is a conversation, Khushi. Tumhe bhi kuch kehna hoga."
Khushi started playing with Arnav's collar while saying "Aap sahi keh rahe the. Hume iss tarah aap se nazar nahi churani chahiye thi. Lekin jo kuch humaare beech ho raha hai.. aur phir jo aaj hua.. hum bahut khabra gaye the.. apne aap se.. humne kabhi ye sab.. matlab.. humne kabhi socha bhi nahi aur.. hum na aapko rok paate hai aur na apne aap ko.. hume pataa bhi nahi ki ye sahi hai ya galat.. hum.. Arnav hum bahut khabra gaye the"
She finally raised her eyes to meet his, begging him to understand. He kissed her forehead and said "I know, Khushi. Mujhe bhi samajhna chahiye tha.. Anyway," he said, smiling "woh sab chodo ab. Aage ke baare mei sochte hai. Tumne mujhse poocha ki humaare beech kya rishta hai. I want to answer you."
Khushi swallowed, unable to break eye contact.
"Khushi, tum jaanti ho ki mai rishto ko naam dene mei believe nahi karta. But, I respect ki tum apne rishto ko naam deti ho. Let's try to meet midway. Uske baare mei hum baat karenge. Filhaal, will you come out on a date with me tonight?"
Khushi blinked. For a second, she almost missed his train of thought and wondered how his mind works. Then, she realized that he had just asked her out and she needed to respond.
She smiled, and nodded at him, not sure if it was a lump that she was feeling in her throat.
Arnav grinned at her before pulling her into a tight hug. Khushi fleetingly thought of how handsome he really was - that was the first times she saw him grin unabashedly and it took her breath away.
He pulled away and said "Theek hai phir. It's 7:30 now, hum ek ghante mei niklenge. Tum change karke aajaao. Payal se kya kahogi?"
Khushi's eyes widened suddenly remembering that her sister was in the other room. Then, she relaxed saying "Filhaal yahi kahenge ki aapke saath bahar jaa rahe hai. Vaapis aake theek se baat karenge. Jiji samajh jaayengi." Khushi paused, looking a bit flustered before saying "Anjali Di se bhi baat karni hai na? Neeche jo kuch bhi hua.."
"I know" said Arnav "Mujhe yaad hai. Tum unki fikar mat karo. Mai bhi unhe filhaal yahi kahunga ki hum date pe jaa rahe hai. I'll promise to talk to her once we're back. Woh bhi samajh jaayengi" smiled Arnav. Then, he said "Toh filhaal jaake change karke yahi aao. Mai bhi change karunga aur Di ko bhi phone kar lunga."
"Theek hai" Khushi smiled. Then, she stepped out of his arms walked away. After she unlocked the door, she stopped, and this time, she rushed back to him to kiss him on the cheek before running out.
Arnav stood there open mouthed for a few moments with his fingertips feeling the imprint of her lips on his cheek. Then, he shook his head, grinned for the second time in a few minutes and walked towards the washroom.
~End of Part 31~
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
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