ISKKNDFF. My One and Only The End:) - Page 30

Part 34:

While still admiring her beautiful face, Arnav shared his thoughts, "...you know what?!...for some reason, I have a feeling that 'this time' Neev would propose to the girl, if he hadn't been done so earlier to some others..."...not bothering to look up at him, Khushi exposed, "geez!!...forget about the proposal, he won't even dare to confess his love even after I introduce him to the girl..."...surprised at her confident tone, he pushed it, "...how can you be so sure??...you may be wrong...I'm 100% sure, he would make it this time..."... "...huh!!...I can even bet...so mark my lips on that..." she rakishly mumbled while gently fastenned the tie up to his throat... "...here, I sealed it!!!..." before she could react, he already stole another kiss from her lips..."...if he dares to propose her, then you will reward me with a kiss...and if he doesn't then----I will get one from you anyways..." he cunningly made an offer with a smile, but sounded more like a warning...'sh*t...he is damn good at throwing conditions no matter what!!!' she thought surprised at him taking his chance, "...then I take that back..." she notified before turning back to her work when he warned her, "...no way!!!...too late hon!!...be ready with my reward..." smirking at his wife, he unwillingly removed his hands from her...

"...you really don't leave a choice for the next person...do you???..." she shook her head in disbelief...satisfied in his mission, he smirked, "...ain't I great??... " .. "...sure!!!..." she huffed as she turned around to the cupboard and got out the red-black contrast saree... leaning against the cupboard door, he stared at her with a smile... "...what??!!!..." confused about his intention, Khushi blurted out... "...anyway, get going...I have to get ready..." she didn't wait for his answer as she threw the saree on the bed before getting out the matching kundon sets... "...then go ahead...you see, I'm here to help you out...before you know it, I am all yours..." he gently offered with a smirk...

"...Thanks for the sympathy..." rolling her eyes, she looked back at him with a smile of appreciation... "...see!!...I knew it..." before he could take a step forward, she warned him, "...hold on...stay where you are..." ...his feet rooted into the floor as soon as his eyes caught the smirk on her face...he was about to open his mouth but immediately gulped in when he noticed her gradually coming towards him...eyes full of love, hands behind her back, but scary part was the 'smirk' on those lips...**CAUTION**...what is she upto???...he cursed himself for his stupid idea of staying back...not blinking his eyes from her, Arnav carefully slipped his hands into his pockets, trying to think of a way to control himself as all of a sudden, her act of 'caution' was having an opposite reaction on him...

His heartbeat stopped as soon as he felt her both arms on his masculine chest, "...I--was--wondering, why--don't--you--give--yourself--a--break--by--the--time--I--get--ready..." she took all her times to say those words as she gently pushed him back with her sweet talks..."...see ya..." smiling at the handsome hunk, she quickly slammed the door on his face...'...welcome back to the world...'...but it was too late as he was already out of their room...he had no clue when and how he had landed up in here..."...I promise I will make you pay for it..." Arnav made a promise to himself as he smirked...

In the evening

"...ooh la la...hot shot..." winking at the young man, Anjali laughed as she was being introduced to Neev... "...honestly!!...I was kidding..." biting the tip of his tongue while holding the right lower earlobe, Neev blushed...she could not keep the act further as his cute face instantly melted her heart, "...aww...apology accepted..." as both shared a warm hug..."...there you are..." Khushi grabbed the attention... "...Neev, this is Lavanya, my friend...and Lavanya, this is Neev, my childhood friend..." she introduced the couple... surprised, "...Hello, I've seen him couple of times in the office, but never actually got a chance to talk...anyway, nice to meet you..." La formally shook her hand...

He couldn't take his eyes off her...of course they happened to see each other a couple of times in the office, but never did he imagine by her look that she has inherited a very humble nature...lost in his own world, Neev didn't even realise when Lavanya excused herself from the circle...it was Anjali, who bursted out into a laughter while Khushi literally had to wave her hand in front of his eyes to bring him back on the existing earth...

Gathering himself, he immediately got a hold of his beloved friend's hand to leave a series of kisses, appreciating her work, "...you are too good didzz..."... getting a hint of his act, Khushi raised her brows, "...it's Lavanya??!!!..." she made sure in a low tone... "...awww so sweet!!!...when are you going to propose??? ..." joined Anjali...her question already confirmed him that Anjali was aware of the news... "...right now!!..." he confirmed...Khushi was the first person to react as she couldn't believe her ears as if she just heard the news of pigs flying in the sky...before she could make sure, Neev left the place to get into his mission, when Anjali grinned widely, really excited to witness the confession plus proposal...

"...Shall we??..." Aman gently forwarded his hand towards his wife...smiling at her loving husband, she put her hand on his, giving him permission to take her to the dancing floor, where soft music was playing to create a beautiful and romantic atmosphere...she decided to get a juice for herself before sitting on the chair to enjoy the romantic dance by the couples...before she could get the juice, suddenly a hand had appeared in front of her, looking up to see Neev smiling at her, "...Can I have the pleasure??..."...her entire body had decided not to function at all when she looked at her surroundings, hoping to see someone she knew... Damn the dimmed light, she couldn't even see anything except him... "...please??..." he insisted... she didn't know why she placed her hand on his and let him proceed on... Perhaps, she happened to feel the -- err -- called -- 'love' in his tone...

"...May I ??..." she looked up to see him holding up his hand for her to be honored... without a second thought, Khushi put her hand on his, letting him take her to his paradise...resting her left hand on his right shoulder, she placed the right one on his left hand...looking down at her beautiful face that had a fade touch of moon-shadow due to the dimmed light, Arnav wrapped his hand around her bare waist, sending a tingle of sensation all over her body, pulling her close to him... closing her eyes, she serenely rested her head on his shoulder, her forehead barely touching his collar... all of a sudden wanted to live in him...wanted to surrender herself before his 'love'...

She was looking everywhere but him...the steps were matching but not their eye-contacts...looking down at her face, he smiled before opening up his heart to her, "...never in life, I've imagined that I would say this to any girl, from the bottom of my heart..."...taking a pause he proceeded, "...I love you..."...there!!...he said it...now if he gets a slap as an answer; he wouldn't give a damn as he was satisfied with himself that he actually gathered all the courage to confess his true feelings for her...

She didn't realise when the music had stopped, when the couples left the dance floor, when they became the center of the attention...all she knew was that someone had confessed his feelings to her...she didn't know what to say or to do...she didn't know if she should just laugh it off or give him a tight slap to bring him out of the act...before she could open her mouth, he was already on his knee, holding her right hand...all ready to propose... "...if there is any girl, whom I believe I can spend the rest of my life with, then it would be ONLY you...if there is any girl, without whom I can't even imagine to live a life, then it would be ONLY you...I promise to give you every happiness that you deserve...I promise to support you in every aspect of life...I promise, not to give you any single chance to complain...will you marry me?...please?..." he finished with a hope glittering in his eyes...

She had never imagined that a prince will actually show up to swipe her off her feet...growing up in a low-middle class family, she had never dreamt of such luck...if this was some kind of a joke, then she will break down...she will completely break down into uncountable pieces...please someone tell her that it was not a joke...her eyes were already filled up as the tears were ready to start their journey down her cheeks, when she looked at her dear friend...it wasn't that she had missed the sincerity and honesty in his voice...she just needed a surety...how can she believe him as she just met him today?...how can he propose a girl whom he doesn't even know anything about...that's when Lavanya looked at Khushi...feeling helpless...

Holding his hand, she left the dance floor...sensing the complete silence in the room, they turned back to witness the scene...Arnav smiled as he knew it was obvious but it was Khushi who clutched onto his left arm tightly...as the scene progressed, she tenderly hugged his left arm while resting her head against his shoulder...feeling happy for both her friend and brother with a smile on her lips and a glint of joy in her eyes...he smiled as he noticed her carried away by the scene...slipping his right hand into pocket, he rested his cheek against her head before turning back his attention to the couple on the dance floor...

The tears finally made it through her cheeks when Lavaya saw her friend smiling with tears glittering in her eyes...turning back to the man, she smiled through her tears...smiling back at her, Neev took out a small velvet box...then slipping the diamond ring in her ring finger, he officially booked her for himself...getting up on his feet, Neev brushed off the tears from her eyes, taking the first step in fulfilling his promises...the entire hall buzzed around with the sound of the claps...

Anjali was the first one to congratulate the couple with a hug, while Aman shared a warm hug with Neev and affectionately patted Lavaya's head...placing a kiss on her forehead, Khushi embraced her little brother...after playfully giving a punch on his stomach, Arnav congratulated his brother-in-law, then turning back to his sweet secretary, Arnav instructed Neev, "...Hey, take care of my kitten...she is really strict and hyper...don't yell at her so often cause it's really hard to pacify her...and al----..."...noticing Lavanya's flushed face, Khushi scolded Arnav, "...stop it Arnav!!..."...sharing a giggle with the gang, Arnav pulled the little girl to his left side by her shoulder for a warm hug...as he too patted her head with the right hand before leaving a affectionate kiss on her head... "...just kidding...she is a good girl..." confessed heartedly...

"...WOW man...you really reminded me of my old days..." Mr. Singh announced as the older couple also joined the floor along with the little man in Mrs. Singh's arms... "...excuse me!?... for your kind information, we had an arranged marriage..." blessing the new couple, Mrs. Singh reminded her absent-minded husband, causing the young generation to laugh at the info...taking her beloved son in her arms from Aman's mom, Khushi too smiled while rubbing his chubby cheek with a tissue, removing the red lipstick mark... "...see!!!...my love for you is so young that I still can't believe that we had an arranged marriage..." Mr. Singh confessed while winking at Neev... "...oh please yaar...not again dad!!!..." Aman rolled his eyes... "...oyee tu mera beta hai ke nahin???...I'm already feeling insecured, thanks to this young gentle-man..." pointing at poor Aryan, who was busy tearing up the tissue that he forcefully got to take over from his mommy, the old man continued, "...that's why trying to woo your mother to fall for my charms all over again..."

Raising an eyebrow, the lady questioned, "...all-over-again??...what made you think that I will fall for your charms EVEN after your ' so called try' ???..." winking at her daughter-in-law she challenged her husband... he immediately took up the challenge, "...because I am planning to enroll in Taekwondo classes..." resting his left arm on Arnav's right shoulder,

Mr. Singh informed... "...My Lord!!! please have mercy on him..." she prayed... "...already taking his side??..." he asked as he raised his brows... "...huh!!...I was talking about you...you see!! it's not a wise decision to take such step at this age...atleast have mercy on your age..." she laughed followed by others... "...now that hurts..." he pitted himself... slightly bending his head Arnav whispered to the old man, "...don't worry uncle, you soon will get a girl-friend from Anjali...Ouch!!!..."...before he could finish, Mrs. Singh already grabbed his left ear, "...say that again young man..."..."...ouhh aunty!!!...trust me I was just trying to be fair!!..." Singh mumbled...releasing his ear, the mother smiled, "...in that case...you are forgiven..."...

"...I tell you, this is called woman power..." Mr. Singh stated, turning back to his competent, he continued before leaving the place to welcome some guests, "...and you!!!...I'll see you in the field..." playfully punching on his chubby cheek, he warned the little baby in his mommy's arms...unaware of the situation, sticking his tongue out at the older man, Aryan practiced 'his new funny face' from his Neev mamu...apparently making everyone cracked up at the response from the cute one, while Mr. Singh excused himself laughing...

Did he really see the figure or it was just an illusion??...excusing himself Arnav rushed to the place where he thought he had seen his father, talking to a person...after carefully searching the place, he decided to check the lounge of the hotel...

Noticing the shiny pearls on his Lavanya aunt's ears, little Ary called her while opening his cute little arms before her, "...laaa--aaahh..." hearing the familiar syllable, she turned to see her chubby nephew is all ready to come into her arms..."...awww did you hear that

Khushi ???...he just called my name in his own words...", taking him in her arms Lavanya showered his face with kisses...thank God she had put light lip-gloss otherwise his face would have looked like a little colorful magazine...

His steps got frozen hearing his mother's name in the conversation..."...why don't you tell him that you were framed by that woman???..." Mr. Singh encouraged..."...yet it's my fault Lalit...if I were careful about her in the first place, then nothing would have gone wrong...I don't know how everything got changed ever since she came into my life...I don't even know how or when I got myself involved with her...perhaps I was too immersed in thinking of ways to become successful in my career that I didn't care about my surroundings, as a result I had to lose my family..." Mr. Mallik sighed as he put all the blames on himself...feeling sorry for his friend, Mr.Singh consoled, "...C'mon yaar, stop blaming yourself over and over again...atleast I know how much you still love your wife...I have seen your state after her death...you even ran away from your eight years old son, Arnav, feeling that how you will be able to face him..." taking a pause he continued, "...I admit, you really didn't pay much attention to your son, then why did you run away from him???...why were you afraid to face him???...that's because somewhere in your heart you were feeling guilty yaar...and that is enough to stand up before Arnav...talk to him please." he concluded...

"...Atleast let him know that you were completely clueless about those photographs...it was that woman's plan to throw your wife out of your life...and you did give her punishment for her deeds afterwards...why can't you just tell him the truth damn-it???...you are not punishing yourself only but him too...I'm sure Arnav will co----.." Mr. Singh stopped when his eyes fell on the figure...Mr. Mallik also turned around at the sudden silence only to witness Arnav...red eyes had mixed emotions of anger and hatred..."...Ar--..." he didn't let his father finish as he stormed out of the place...

Eyes locked on the floor while both elbows rested on knees, he was sitting on a bench in the decorated lawn feeling miserable...more than anyone else he was angry at himself...for making his own conclusion...for not understanding his father...for unknowingly hurting his mother's soul...before it could touch the shiny floor, a hand had caught the precious tear just in time...turning to his right he watched his father helplessly observing the drop of emotion in his palm...he watched him closing his palm as if treasuring it for life...his head dropped again as Arnav closed his eyes...gulping in the emotions that were erupting in his heart...

"...you know!!...you look exactly like Aryan when you are angry..." Mr. Mallik whispered hoping to bring a smile on his face...and he was succeded... "...sorry!!! couldn't say it the other way around..." he paused as he knew his son was also aware of the reason..." perhaps, mostly because I spent more time with Aryan than you...you know! a father always wants to see himself in his son but I may be the first father who would pray to God that my son never gets to be like me...you know why??!!..." not receiving any answer from the side, he continued, "...because my son deserves better than me...and guess what?!!...he already found one..." holding back the tears, the father smiled at his son through his shiny eyes..."...Trust me man...Aryan is way better than me...this dude really knows how to capture the Centre of the attention...look!!!..." he gestured Aryan to glance at the circle of ladies adoring the little baby...the smile was still visible on his face... "...what a lucky fellow!!!..." ...after a short moment of silence, both father-son broke into a giggle...

In their way of sharing a happy moment, neither one of them realized when they got into an embrace...tightly holding onto his father, the poor son broke down, apologizing "...I'm sorry dad..." ...the last word was all that he craved to hear from his son, as he held him close to his heart, for the first time feeling his son, "...I'm sorry son..."...

Resting her chin on her right hand that was placed on Khushi's shoulder, both Anjali and Khushi were smiling at the reconciliation scene with tears of joy rolling down their cheeks...

"...Ash's sixth month just started, that means we will have a baby-shower next month..." Mrs. Singh informed the girls..."...and as usual I need help from you two..." she sweetly asked Khushi and Lavanya for help... "...of course aunty...don't worry about it...we will take care of everything..." the girls assured her, when she noticed the sudden change on his face from the corner of her eyes...

Even though he wasn't in the circle, but the 'word' did hit his ears...kindly excusing himself, Arnav left the place with his son...coming out of the party, he walked upto the beautiful fountain surrounded by 4 feet long wall...carefully making Aryan sit on the 16 inches thick wall, the father stood right across him...then taking both his tiny hands into his, Arnav apologized, "...I'm sorry..."...placing a kiss on both hands, he continued while his son just smiled as he loved his paa-paa for bringing him to this cool place... "...sorry...for not taking care of your momma, when she needed me the most..." ...the smile on his sad face was confusing the little one, as his tiny fingers touched those lips to be sure whether paa-paa was actually smiling or not...placing another peck on them, Arnav gently got a hold of his hand..."...but now I promise to take full care of her..." noticing his frown face, Arnav rolled his eyes, "...ok fine...TOGETHER, we will take care of her...fair enough??!!!..."...the cool act of rolling the eyeballs made the little one giggle at his paa-paa...sharing the giggle with his son, the father picked him on his arms as they both explored the beauty of the decorated fountain...leaning her head against the large pillar, she closed her eyes as the tears streamed down her face...

At night

It was 1:00 in the morning and Mrs. Bregenza had to go home for some personal reason...after dropping his wife and son home safe and sound, Arnav decided to drop his mother-like caretaker home himself...

After putting Aryan to sleep, she gently placed him on the crib...quietly walking to the balcony, she looked up at the sky when her eyes filled up with regrets... how could she think that he never loved her...how could she even think that he wanted to snatch Aryan from her, when his world revolved only around them...if Aryan was his heart then she was the beats...how could he live without any of them???...how could she hurt him??...how could she???...hiding her face in her palms, she finally broke into a sob, when she felt his warmth...

Making sure, he doesn't wake up his son, Arnav gently held her by the shoulders, concerned, "...what happened Khushi???...please tell me..." trying his best not to get panicked, he slowly turned her around to face him, when she collapsed in his arms, uncontrollably weeping...securely gathering her in his arms, he tried to comfort her...clutching onto his shirt as she kept her head on his heart, "...I--I'm--sor--sorry..." she finally managed to say those words through her broken voice...he decided to keep quiet as he wanted her to let all those pains out of her heart... "...I--love--you..." somehow gathering herself, she confessed... did he hear it right??...gently cupping her wet cheeks in between his palms, he lifted her face up to look at him...

Very tenderly with his thumbs, he removed those tears away from her face..."...I'm so---..." he didn't let her finish as he captured those annoying-apologetic lips with his...her left hand slowly moved up to caress his thick hair at the back of his neck, pulling him closer to give him what he deserved...giving him all the rights that he had on her...if only she could make up for all those moments that he wished from her with this one kiss of love...as if she had completely surrendered herself to him and was begging him to punish her...punish her until he feels satisfied...she wanted him to punish her for himself...for herself...