FF: And then she found me...THREAD 1 - Page 5

"Yes." Khushi was still lost in thought as she walked along the school grounds with Miss Seth.

"I knew it! I recently saw him in an edition of Forbes magazine. Wow you're so lucky!" She said clapping her hands like a seal."Not only is he one of the most powerful men in Asia he is damn good looking. That is one sexy boyfriend you got there."

"He is not my boyfriend, he is my fianc. We are going to get married." Were they? Khushi thought. And why had she felt the need to stake claim on him?

"Now I am jealous! He is absolutely perfect. How come I didn't know about this?" Miss Seth looked disappointed at having missed on an invite.

"It was a very small affair Shruti, Just his family and mine. No party no media. Sorry." Khushi was genuinely sorry. She new Miss Seth was a bit nosey but she never meant anyone any harm. She was quite fond of her, Miss Seth always managed to make her smile with her wild stories.

"I guess you're forgiven, he is known to be the secretive type. But I want an invite to the wedding young lady. You know I actually met Mr Raizada once." Khushi having known both Miss Seth's and Arnav's persona could imagine how that encounter must have gone.

"That couldn't have gone well. I apologies on his behalf. He is not much of a people person." Khushi said sincerely

"Not at all, he is a very nice man. When I use to work at my previous school he would always make generous donations. He would always want to see the schools facilities, see what it is the children needed so he could make the necessary donations of money and equipment. Not a lot of people with his status would be prepared to invest their own time into such causes. Most of the time they feel that writing out a cheque is all they need to do. You are very lucky, he has a very big heart not mention his charm and those eyes and that smile, his washboard abs-." Miss Seth continued to praise Arnav's good looks and his attempts to better education for children around the city. Only Arnav would walk around openly admitting how much he hates kids to then go to every length to ensure they have the best chance in life. There was so much to him that she didn't know. This was probably the tip off the iceberg. How can one man be so self contradicting?

He felt a slight knot in his stomach. What would he do if she left? 'Stop it Arnav, she's not going anywhere. And if she does then thats one less headache.' He hated that she was becoming a growing part of his life. But at the same time he couldn't regret the decision of tying himself to her. He remembered their tight embrace. The way she held him so close, so tightly, without any hesitance. How he had also held on to her without any reluctance. He snapped his eyes open at the vision of her smiling eyes. He started up the engine and made his way home.

Khushi was in charge of the arts stall. But she could hardly concentrate on the work at hand. Her mind kept drifting between the Arnav she first met and the Arnav she had seen this morning. She picked up a piece of paper and brown chalk and started to sketch out her thoughts furiously. He hadn't changed much but it was the attention Arnav was giving her that was catching her off guard. His daily calls to see if she had reached home from work. His attempt at holding a conversation with buaji without getting worked up. For anyone else this would all be normal but in the case of Arnav it was a small miracle in its self. Yes it took four months to get there, but he was getting there. Did Khushi owe it him to give him another chance? Did she want to take that risk? Or was it all just an act to keep everyone quite and off his back? Khushi tried to see the situation from every angle.

"Who is that, Miss Gupta?" One of Khushi's students pointed towards her sketch. She looked down at the sketch to see his big brown eyes staring back at her.

"I have no idea." She really didn't know exactly who Arnav was and what their relationship would come to be.

"Come, lets make a rocket together." Khushi shared the child's excitement in her own smile as she began to mix the colours.

His thoughts kept flashing back to her in his arms. She was so petite so fragile yet she fitted so perfectly into big muscular arms. He wanted to hold her closer, if that was even possible. He wanted for her to forget about everything that had happened in the past. He wanted to tell that he was sorry for everything. But he couldn't. He couldn't wear his heart on his sleeve. Not yet, not until he knew she was ready to take that step with him. A faint smile lingered on his lips. 'I use to hate that girl' he thought to himself. 'I use to hate her for her carefree ways, her way of intruding in everyone's business and her nerve to talk back to me.' After those first impressions Arnav was quick to learn that had he misjudged her. She was not completely carefree, she just had a way handling bad situations with a smile on her face. She didn't want to know everyone's business, she just wanted to make sure everyone was ok, and she only spoke back to him when she was standing up for herself or something she believed in. And wasn't that exactly what he was doing? At first all this just enraged him further. 'How can someone be so selfless?' He often thought. She had so easily and readily become a part of his family that she was around all the time. Di loved her like a sister already and he was sure that Khushi felt the same way about Di too. He tried his best to keep away from her, 'just business' he would say to himself over and over again whenever she was around. And until lately he thought that she too must be making some profit for this relationship, that she must have some underlying motive.

It wasn't until he started seeing her for who she is. Her innocence, her natural stunning beauty and her heart. A heart so pure that it shone right through her flesh and bought light into whomever's life she entered. How could he stay away? He didn't want to fight the pull she had on him. He wanted to give into it completely. He wished. He wished he was able to give her the love the she deserved, the love she asked for. The phone rang and broke Arnav free from Khushi's thoughts. This annoyed him. Di had called to tell him to come home early today for pooja and that everyone was waiting for him. This is why he needed Khushi he thought to himself. To distract him. This is why he went to see her so late last night. He felt a sharp pang in his chest at the thought of going home and facing his Di. She could always see past his mask. Each year he tried to be stronger than the last, he tired to be indifferent. He didn't want her to see him weak or broken.

"Yes Di I am leaving right now." He would not let her down this year. He would show her that he has all but put it behind him and moved on.

"That's great news Khushi, I glad your day was a success. Now I want you to come straight here, I' sending a car for you as we speak."

"Oh Di there is no need I'll make my own way there."

"So are you coming home with Arnav then? Does he know to pick you up?" Khushi began to blush at the thought of her arms wrapped around Arnav. 'Stop it!' she told herself.

"N-n-n-no Di I've already called an auto."

"Khushi, am glad you are here, come sit." Khushi sat down noting the sadness in Anjali's eyes.

"Di?" Khushi put her hand on Anjali's shoulder reassuring her that she was not alone.

"It's Maa's birthday today." Khushi didn't know what to say. The memories of her own parents weighed on her chest. She could understand Anjali's pain.

"'ll manage to get by somehow, talk to someone, laugh or cry about it, get it off my chest but Chote...he is just so...Always bottling up his feelings, he won't even share them with me. I just want him to smile, even if it is just today for the sake of our parents. I can't stand to see him suffer in silence. He doesn't want sympathy, he just need someone who will help him accept what has happened and to move on...You understand what I mean, right? " Khushi could see Anajli's eyes filling up with tears of her brother's pain. Khushi respected the strong bond Anjali and Arnav had. Both had an understanding which people spend their entire life looking for. To Arnav, Di was his only true family and that's all his world consisted of. Khushi understood that Di was not just talking about the pain Arnav was feeling today. She was talking about the pain he has been locking up for the past 12 years. Anjali was scared that when Arnav finally breaks that he may not be able to pull himself back together again. She was handing his responsibility over to Khushi.

"Di, I understand. Khushi said taking Anjali's hand and holding it between hers. "I will never let his past become his weakness. And if for whatever reason he should ever fall, I'll be there to help him back on his feet. I will never give you a reason to be disappointed in me. I'll take care of him." In a moment of weakness and compassion Khushi had made a promise to good honest woman that even if his sister wasn't around Arnav would be looked after. Anjali hugged Khushi with joy.

"I am soo glad that Chote has you in his life. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. You are a blessing for this family Khushi." How often is it that a girl is able to find in-laws who are able to give so much love that you no longer feel the sorrow of leaving your home?

Arnav had reached home and was sitting in his car for the past five minutes. "Come on Khushi answer your goddamn phone!" He had been calling her ever since he left work and it was either coming up as busy or voicemail. He just wanted to hear her voice just one last time before he went in. He needed to hear the chime of her voice to keep him in a light and good mood. He didn't want to walk in like the rain cloud of doom. He wanted her to say something silly, anything that he could use as an anchor. Di had always said that they should celebrate ma's birthday with joy and not grief. He tried the phone one last time but it went straight to voicemail.

"Argh! Gupta!" He left the car and walked into his home. He could hear several different laughters coming from the sitting area, one in particular rang melodiously in his ears. He walked in further following the bells of the laughter. She was there, pulling a strange stern face and stomping from one end of the room to the other. Her hair, no longer in a bun, flowed down her back, she looked heavenly in her white salwar. Arnav could see Di, Akash and Payal in fits of laughter. Arnav couldn't make out what was so funny.

He stalked over to the sofas, "Khushi?!" His heart started drumming in his chest. He tried with all his might to control his heartbeat. 'Calm down dammit!' he told himself.

She looked at him, searching his face for the smile that was so evident in his voice but nowhere to be seen on his lips. Why couldn't he just smile she thought. And then she caught his eyes. She felt stupid for just thinking it, but it felt like his eyes were hugging hers. And then in them she saw the smile she was searching his lips for. A sudden shock of fear ran through her and she swiftly turned around to face away from.

"Di-i-i-i I think I hear Nani calling for me." Khushi made a quick escape to the stairs not making any eye contact with Arnav as she speed walked past him. She moved quickly along the corridoors of Shantivaan to reach Nani's room.

"Khushi, look at me." His voice more stern. Khushi slowly turned to face him but not meeting his gaze.

"Why weren't you answering your phone? Look at me Khushi." Khushi looked up at him wide eyed. She was shocked that he had not already thrown her out of the house for making fun of him.

"I've been calling you for the past 45 minutes. First it was engaged and now it's going straight to voicemail. Do you not check your phone? What is the point in having one if you are not going to answer it?" Khushi was still trying to figure out why he wasn't angry her for making fun of him.

"Eh? You are upset because I didn't answer your calls?" She scratched her head in confusion. A small smile started to play on Arnav's lips, he wanted to tell her that it was impossible for him to be mad at her after hearing her laugh but he suppressed his smile.

"I am not upset. I am not the raging bull you make me out to be. You still haven't answered my question." He made sure that his voice was cool, calm and indifferent.

"I diverted all my calls as soon as I got to Shantivaan, nothings more important than being here for Di and-" She looked up at him meeting his gaze. Was it just and emotional day for him today or had she never noticed how expressive his eyes were? He could tell a whole story with saying a single word. She only hoped that her eyes were expressing what she was unable to say. She had promised Anjali that she would be there for him, and even if was just as a friend, she wanted to keep her promise.

"I thought it would be best," she said lowering her gaze. 'God she's beautiful' Arnav let out a sigh.

"Hmmm Fine...What were you doing downstairs, Khushi?" Arnav asked whilst raising one of his eyebrows. Khushi's head shot up. Her eyes wide with fear began to blink uncontrollably as a nervous smile worked on her lips. Arnav grinned, on the inside, as he saw her vanilla cheeks turn crimson.

"I...We...Di...Jiji wanted..And Akash Jiju also...Why were you calling me?" She chirped unable to find a viable excuse.

"Khushi beetiya." Arnav and Khushi turned their attention towards Nani's room.

"See, I told you Naniji was calling for me." She waved her finger at him. Relief washed across Khushi's face at the thought of being saved. 'Hai devi maiyya, thank you thank you, thank you.' She turned and started to speed walk towards Nani's room.

"Don't look back, don't look back, don't look back" she hummed to herself. But she couldn't resist, just as she turned the corner she glanced back at him. She could swear she saw a slight smile on his lips.

"Not like that", she whispered softly to him, smiling into his eyes as he met hers. He was surprised and yet for the first time a long time felt completely at peace. Arnav hated pooja paat, to him the gods were just statues which he could easily buy and break. It was only on occasions that centred around his parents did he pay any attention. He would send a silent prayer to gods, if they existed, for his parents to find peace. But all the while he would be pulling and tugging on the ropes on the inside that were holding him in place, for him not to breakdown. Khushi's presence reassured him that he wouldn't fall, he had a feeling that she wouldn't let him. And then he thought that his parents must be in a good place now, how else could they have sent Khushi for him? Arnav and Khushi passed the aarti to Payal and Akash and as they turned to take their places. Anjali saw a smile on Arnav's face. She gleamed and fought back tears of joys which were now clouding her eyes.

"Khushi I think everyone has enough food on their plates, will you please sit down now." Akash ordered with a smile. Although Anjali was rejoicing over her brothers change in attitude for today, his and Khushi's interaction only emphasised what she was missing. She looked at Arnav who was lost in his own world, Khushi, who had sat down opposite him. She gulped down lump in her throat. 'He could have atleast come home on time today...' Anjali sat, lost in thought. The smile on her face faded into a look of concern. 'Everything changes after marriage. He use to adore me and now I hardly see him. Maybe I am doing something wrong?' Everyone could feel the missing presence of Anjali's husband Shyam.

"Praise the Lord that Chote has noticed someone other than Khushi, you haven't been able to keep your eyes opff of her all evening." Anjali teased asKhushi started to choke on the piece of chapatti she was chewing on. She looked up at Arnav with eyes the size of the moon. Seeing that he had been caught Arnav quickly darted his eyes away from her face. 'IDIOT!' he cursed himself! Khushi was still trying to catch her breath.

"Paani drinkingya," Mami said whilst handing Khushi a glass of water and patting her on the back.

"It happens, it happens, during the first stages of love it all happens! Hello hi bye bye!" Her sentence turned into an eruption of laughter which was mirrored by everyone on the table except Arnav and Khushi, who at this point, were looking at everything but each other. Even Nani chuckled at Mami's comment before leaving the table to take rest in her room. Khushi looked at Anjali 'hai devi maiyya, she always wants the best for everyone, she always cares for everyone. Let her always remain this happy, give back her Shyamji.' The silent prayer was echoed by Arnav as they both sat watching Anjali in hysterics. Khushi looked at Arnav who in the same moment faced her. He quickly dropped his gaze to the plate in front him. 'What the hell you fool, stop looking at her!' Arnav cursed himself and tried to focus on getting through the rest of dinner without any further embarrassments. Khushi on the other hand sat there frozen.

'Arnav Singh Raizada...Blushing? No no, you have completely lost the plot Khushi. Have you ever seen an ogre blush?!' Whilst her inner monologue continued Arnav stole another glance at her. When caught, he quickly dropped his gaze for the second time.

'ARNAV STOP BEING A FOOL DAMMIT!' His left hand balled up into a fist. Khushi looked away and blinked in astonishment.

'He blushed!' A huge grin made way on Khushi's lips and she knew she was going to enjoy this. "Di, I think I am going to have to face some big competition whilst trying to win over Arnav's heart." She giggled at the thought of Shruti trying to seduce Arnav.

"What? Who is this other woman, Chote?" She frowned at Arnav who's mere response was a shrug of the shoulders and a confused face. He turned to glare at Khushi. 'What the- this girl is going to ge me killed one of these days with all that nonsense she talks-Wait...What?! Since when has she been trying to win over my heart?' His glare returned to being confused.

"There is one girl, Arnav has managed to impress her a lot. She all praises for him and his generous, big, kind, heart has got her dancing around singing love songs. Tarrif pe tarrif kiye ja rahi hai." Khushi's smile grew at the sight of annoyance on Arnav face.

"What rubbish! Me, kind? I have managed to say anything kind to in in over a year what makes you think I am kind to anyone else." He retaliated back

"Yehi tho dukh ki baat hai ji" Khushi raised her hand to her forehead in true filmi style. 'Nautanki.' Arnav thought to himself. But was she really? They had been engaged for 4 months and he was yet to pay her compliment let alone romance her, it actually was a very sad thought.

"Who is this other woman?" Anjali asked impatiently.

"Shruthi Seth." Khushi winked at Anjali, who was shocked and then burst out laughing.

"That small, round, bubbly woman from your school? Aab iss main chote bhi tho kyoi galthi nahi hain.Voh hain hi itni pyaari un par pyaar kaise nahi aata" Anjali said wiping her tears from her cheeks.

"Shruti who?" Arnav was annoyed at being left out on the joke.

"Aare Arnav bitwa that englis teacheriya who works with Khushi." Mami turned and high-fived Khushi who was still imaging Shruti and Arnav as a couple. Frustrated he turned to ask Khushi directly.

"Shruthi?" Everyone else were having a ball sharing the joke amongst themselves.

"Arnav, you know, Shruthi Seth, only this morning you met-" Khushi stopped before she finished the sentence and froze in fear. Arnav started to glare at her again, it wasn't a glare of annoyance or frustration, this was the Arnav Singh Raizada glare. 'This girl is going to be the death of me.' Arnav concluded. Anjali's head snapped around from the conversation she was having with payal.

"What? You were with Khushi this morning Chote? You had told me that you were leaving for the office'But at that time Khushi would have already been at school...So before you came home this morning? From the office of course, because that's where you were all night." A mischievous look crept into Anjali's eyes.

" D-d-di, of course he was at the office." Khushi stammered as she tried to save her sinking ship. "What I meant to say that, had he have come to see me this morning then he would have been able to meet Shruthi. But he was at work and so then how could he meet Shruthi.." Khushi stuffed her mouth with a large fork full of rice. Arnav moved back in his seat and his eyebrow lifted up at the sight of how much rice Khushi had just stuffed in her mouth. He shook his head, 'that isn't going to keep you quite for long Gupta.'

"Hmmm" said Anjali unable to catch the two out.

"Khushi, if Arnav bhaisaab has never met Shruthi how does she know what he is like?" Said Payal. Khushi saw Akash nudge Payal and whisper something into her ear, 'careful Khushi' she thought.

"Payal, please stop adding saab at the end of bhai" Arnav begged. Payal nodded and mouthed an apology to her brother in law.

"What, woman this is the Arnav Singh Raizada we are tlaking about not some random Tom Dick or Harry." Arnav felt a sense of pride as she spoke, a large part of him had accepted the fact the she had said it in jest but a part of him was still proud that she had spoke of him in such way. " She has seen him in aForbes magazine and she had met him once at the previous school she used to work at."

"Tho phir iss main to shruthi bhi koi galthi nahi hai di' Payal concluded. "Humare Arnav bhaiya hai hi itne handsome, kaise pyaar nahi aata."

"That makes Khushi the other woman, right?" Akash asked playfully. Khushi started to nod and laugh. She remembered Shruti gushing over Arnav's looks.

"Arnav the sexy man!" She exclaimed repeating Shruthi's words before she continued laughing. As soon as the words left her mouth Arnav began to choke on his sip of water which knocked Khushi back into reality. Anjali started to pat Arnav's back.

"Khushi beetiya aapni feelings ko controlva mein keep ji hello hi bye bye!" Mami was rolling with laughter again.

"That's not what I said-" but no one was listening to her.

"Hotha hai hotha hai, shuru shuru main saab hotha hai." Anajli chimed whilst she patted her brothers back. Arnav looked up at a very scared looking Khushi. Arnav couldn't figure out whether he was amused, flattered or annoyed with Khushi's comment. Did she think he was sexy?

"Nooo Di it was Shruthi not me I was just' She thought he was' hai devi maiyya how do I make these crazy people understand?" An exhausted Khushi felt defeated. She lifted up her white napkin and waved it over her head as a sign of surrender. The table was again filled with the sound of laughter. Arnav smiled a little at Khushi's gesture.

'There it is, that smile I thought I saw earlier. He should definitely smile more often, he doesn't look anything like a rakshas or a laad governor when he smiles. Gosh imagine that smile but only bigger, imagine his bellowing laughter! Shruthi might be right this Arnav Singh Raizada is quite se- KHUSHI! Stop! Hai devi maiyya!' She tried to shake the crazy images flying through her mind.

"Di I have some work to do. Khushi a word before you leave." He pushed his plate forward before rising from his seat. There was quite giggling as Arnav made a swift exit from the dining area and stalked up the stairs to his room. Khushi felt sick. Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut for once.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET9IiBzrKBA[/YOUTUBE]