FF: And then she found me...THREAD 1 - Page 9

Mamiji had exscused herself to her room to catch up on her daily soaps. Anjali, Payal, Akash and Khushi were sat in the living room talking amoungst themselves. Akash was sitting In silence, deep in thought when he began to chuckle.
"Jju please stop it's not funny." Khushi begged.
"It's funny because it's you and bhai. God, it's going to be so much fun watching the to two of you live together...Stop calling me Jiju, Khushi Bhabhi." He said with a grin.
"You are married to my sister Jiju." She said
"You're going to marry my elder brother Bhabhi. That makes me your Devar."
"It's just weird...I mean you're older than me." Khushi said pulling a face.
"But in relation by marriage you will be older than me." Khushi gave him a disapproving look at on thought that she would be older than him,even if it was by relation.
"Ok you two give it a rest. Will all know that eventually Akash will give in as Khushi can is as stubborn as a bull." Payal said prompting Khushi to flash a huge grin. "So lets leave this discussion till later...hey Di did you hear that Bradly Cooper has been voted sexiest man alive." There was mischief playing in her eyes that Anjali caught on to.
"Hmm I also heard the Hrithik Roshan was voted the sexiest man in Asia. I wonder who thesexiest man in India would be?" Akash had his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter whilst Payal and Anajli both looked at Khushi's expression.
"Hmm Khushi, who do you think should be the sexiest man in India?" Anjali concluded before bursting out in laughter.
"Jiji! Di! It wasn't even me who said it, it was Shruti and her stupid thoughts not mine!" Khushi exclaimed.
"Of course it was." Payal said in a serious tone before she started to laugh again.
"Ok you know what I have had a very long day and I have another long day ahead of me tomorrow so I am now going back to my flat. Goodnight." Khushi Got up straighting her duppata and grabbing her bag.
"Khushi don't be like that, stay. We won't mention it again." Payal said apologetically realising she may have gone to far.
"Nahi Jiji. I am not upset. Had it have been you I would also be laughing about it but I am seriously tiered." She said smiling at her sister, reassuring her that she was ok.
"Khushi, Chote wanted to see you before you leave." Anjali said with a big smile. 'Darn!' Khushi cursed. She had hoped that they had forgetten.
"Hmmm but its late now, maybe he is asleep. Can't be that important. I'll speak to him tomorrow." She shrugged hoping they would let it drop.
"Nope, I'm sure bhai's awake." Akash said with a grin. 'Fine!' she thought as she lifted her head and marched towards the stairs. 'If I can get my self into this mess, I can get myself out...I won't be scared.' She reached his room and knocked on the door once before entering. 'I won't be scared.'

***

"Khushi." Her heart sank at the sound of his voice coming from near the pool as she stepped into his room. She saw him in the garden surrounded by his plants looking up at the stars. He looked so peaceful. 'Just like a volcano before it erupts.' Khushi thought. How can a man so cold, be as dangerous as fire?
"Ok, ok I know I shouldn't have said what I said but it wasn't me that said it was Shruthi." She spoke at a speed which didn't seem human. Arnav looked at her confused as she broke him from his tranquil state of mind. "I mean why would I say that? It doesn't make sense right? We don't share that kind of relationship and I don't look at you in that way for me to say that I mean you're Arnav Singh Raizada." A nervous laugh escaped her lips as she drew in a deep breath. "But that's not to say that you are not attractive because you're Arnav Singh Riazada, of course you're attractive why cant you be attractive? I have often thought to myself that you are in fact very handsome but Shruti found your biceps to be very sexy now don't ask me about how or when she saw your arms cause I haven't even seen them ince you're always covering yourself up with shirts but anyways I told her I am more of a six-pac girl and therefore me calling you sexy would be completely out of the question." She starting biting her nails realising the words that had left her mouth. Arnav was using all his strength to not laugh in her face. But Khushi's verbal diarrhea was not yet finished as she tried to redeem herself.
"I am not trying to offend you, I mean sure I will fill you sexy one day...once we are married...and I have had a brain transplant! Why dont you tell me to shut up!?"
"Khushi, shut up." he said."Ok ...But I didn't-""Chup!" He said slightly annoyed.

"Leekin-" He put hand against her mouth whilst the with the other hands he put a finger to his lips.
"Shhh." He hushed her.Khushi sighed with relief for a moment only to then realised she may have actually got her self into more of a mess than she was in before. Khushi closed her eyes a leaned back slightly as he leaned forward.She waited for him to shout, to grab her by the arms, to tell her to get out.

But Arnav began to chuckle. Khusi's eyes flew open in awe at the sight before her. Arnav Singh Raizada was laughing. Not in a cruel, revenagefull, villainous way but a real heartfelt genuine one. She couldn't help but smile herself, 'Laad Governer' she thought, in a loving way. He shook his head in an attempt to stop laughing and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Gupta, you're a strange girl." He said smiling.
"I like to think of it as a gift." She smiled back
"The reason I wanted to talk to you was because I wanted you to think about what I said earlier today." All laughter had now dispeared as seriousness replced the humour in his tone. Khushi stood confused.
"Ohhh. Of course from now on I will always check my phone, actually it was quite carelss of me I mean you or anyone else could be caling because of an emercgency and I wouldn't know-"
"What? Gupta no I am not talking about your phone." He said slightly irrated.
"Then? About investing GNEX cause I don't have clue about that you would really have to speak to Jiji about-"
"Khushi, I don't want to talk about your phone and I am definetly not going to discus investments with you. I meant what I had said this morning at school." He could see in Khushi's eyes the little light that flicked on in her mind. He allowed him self a little smile. A strand of hair had become loose, flowing in the gentle breeze. Arnav carefully moved the hair behind her ear.
"Think about what I said this morning. I can't perform miracles. I am who I am. I don't believe in love and romance. But I will do what I feel would be the best for us." It was just as hard for Khushi to hear his words as it was for him to say them.
"If after that you still feel that it isn't right then the deals off, I promise." He was giving her a ticket out. 'Why was he doing this? Why the sudden change of heart...Wait! When did he get the heart?!' A whole year had passed and she and see had never seen this side to him. A side so human, so real. She wanted to hug him again, she wanted to tell him that everything is ok. But she couldn't. She didn't know how long this 'good' Arnav would last. This could just be a guest appearance; so far the Laad Governor had been in the lead in her film. She smiled a half hearted smile which was filled with her internal turmoil. He turned and made his way up the stairs to the terrace. And then he was gone. 'It's that easy' she said to herself, 'He can leave that easily, don't be a fool'.

***

"Di, I am going to take your leave now." Khushi wrapped her arms around Anjali and pulled her in for a hug.
"Thank you Khushi." Anjali whispered as she held her tightly. Khushi pulled away determined to leave on a high note.
"Well if that's the case Mrs Jha I don't mind hugging you again and again and again. The honour will truly be mine." She flashed her smile and did her trade mark eyebrow dance.
"Pagal!" Anjali playfully tap her on her shoulder. "I wanted to thank you for the small smile Chote had on his lips all evening." Khushi could see Anjali tearing up.
"Di'You seem to have misplaced your own beautiful smile whilst trying to get one on your brothers face? This just won't do. Ek baadi si smile tho banthi hai!" Anjali's face lit up. "Aap." Khushi didn't have to turn around to see that Anjali's smile was not for her.
"Yes me." was Shyam's response.
"I'll just go get the prasaad from todays pooja." Anjali beamed as she went towards the mandir.
"Hey, Khushiji. Nice to see you after such along time, I was beginning to think that maybe things were not working out between you and my brother-in-law." Khushi felt it was strange of Shyamji to make such a comment on her relationship with Arnav.
"Namaste Jijaji. It's nothing like that. Things are going great actually. I was jus realy busy with work. And now I have to leave otherwise I won't be able to get in the morning. Bye Di" She winked at Anjali.
"Khushiji, I'll drop you home." Shyam quickly followed behind Khushi. Anjali had came in with a tray of sweet. The disappointment on her face evident at th thought of her husband leaving so soon.
"There is really no need Jijaji, you've only just step foot in the house... and Di has been waiting for you all day. I'll take an auto."
"There is no need for that. I'll have Mohan drive you home." Anjali ditacted and the nturned to her husband. "Yoshouldgo freshen up, I'll get dinner ready."
"Di-"
"I won't stand or this Di Vi, the driver has to go home anyway so he'll drop you home." Khushi didn't argue any further. Shyam made his way to his room and Anjali went to prepare dinner for him.

Khushi stood there in the hall way of Shaantivaan. She closed her eyes and a sweet smile dance on her lips. Today had been a good day she thought to herself. Then her thoughts went to him. And a wave of sadness washed over her. She knew he was still grieving. She knew the pain never really goes away with time but something you just got use to. She wanted to tell him that it all would be right. Maybe not tomorrow or the day after that but one day he would be able to see just how beautiful this life can be. She started making her way towards the door when she got the feeling she wasn't alone.

She didn't stop walking as she turned around. It was as though he had heard her thoughts. He was there standing on the stairs in his casual home wear. His eyes were trying to say something, but his lips were still as stone. She raised her hand to give him a little wave. "Bye." She whispered hopping he could read her lips they way she wished she could read his eyes.

And then she was gone. He was left there standing on the stairs unable to move, unable to think about anything else but her. He watched the space she had been standing in long after she had gone.
"Saaleh saab, sub teek tho hai?" A familiar voice broke Arnav from his trance. He nodded and went back to his room. He paced the length of his room back and forth. 'Dammit Arnav don't you dare. Not today, not now, not ever!' he muttered under his breath. He shut his eyes and pulled all the ropes inside him tight, desperately trying to keep himself together.

***

Khushi waited up that night. It was 1 am before she decided to get some sleep. "So the day I wait up for him is the day he won't turn up, typical. Should have seen it coming." She changed into her pyjamas and got into bed. She closed her eyes to get some rest. But all she saw was him standing on the steps of his house looking at her, without speaking, without blinking, without moving, he'd said a thousand things with those eyes. Those eyes. Khushi thought over and over again. 'No wonder he is a man of few words. Who needs to talk when you have eyes like his?' Now all she had to do was figure them out. She couldn't bring herself to believe that his eyes were begging her to stay when she was leaving. This was Arnav Singh Raizada, the man who had let her fall from his 2^nd floor cabin during her short contract at AR. She frowned at the thought of those two weeks working for the Rakshash. Her father wanted her to have ago a working in the business sector before she completely signed her soul away to art. Knowing that she was a girl who refused to tag along on her parents name and reputation Shashi arranged for her to work for Arnav. Though Arnav knew next to nothing about her background at the time. He had taken her on as a recommendation. In short, he had made Khushi's life a living hell. 'Khushi, the man hates you! It makes no difference to if you come or go!' Unable to sleep she sat up in bed.

Arnav lay wide awake staring at the moonlight pouring into his room. His phone began to ring. He contemplated on letting it ring, he was not in the mood to talk to Aaman about the meetings that had been arranged for tomorrow. Then with the sigh of defeat he answered it without looking at the caller I.D.
"You're still awake? At this hour? I thought you would be asleep by now." She chirped. A huge smile swept across his lips. Maybe, just maybe there was a higher being.
"And what if I said I was asleep until you rang at ridiculous o'clock" He tried to make his voice sound husky and tiered which didn't need much effort. He heard a slight gasp on the other side of the phone.
"Sorry sorry sorry, go back sleep, goodnight" Khushi rushed. 'What were you thinking stupid girl!' she cursed herself.
"No wait" Arnav replied with much haste struggling not to chuckle. "Phone kyun kiya? Tum teek ho?" Arnav's mind started buzzing with all the strange situations Khushi could land herself in. Khushi heard he concern in his voice and smiled.
"I'm fine...It's just you didn't come over today..." Arnav stared incredulously at his ceiling. 'So now she wants me to come over...??"
"Khushi I think you should first decide if you want me to come over or not. Because this morning you swore last night would be the last time you let me into your apartment." He let it drop as the thought hit him that she was thinking of him. "Wait, where you waiting up for me?" He asked
"Nahi toh! Bilkhul nahi, maine toh bas aainvay...Just thought I'd ask is our ok." Khushi couldn't think straight. He couldn't deny himself of the joy he felt.
"Hmmm. How was your charity function?" He thought it would be a good idea to show her that he does listen to what she says, even if he has to filter 60% of her jibberish.
"Charity fair, function nahi." 'Fail' Arnav thought. "It went really you know..." Khushi went on to describe her day at the fair and all the paintings and drawing and masti her and the kids got up to. She yawned down the phone, "How was your day?" sShe asked hesitantly hoping for a simple "good" or "not so good" for an answer. She really couldn't get her head around business.
"Do you really want to know Gupta?" He asked knowing her too well.
"Hmmm I won't understand most of it." She said guiltily.
"In that case it was ok."
"Good" she said. Arnav could hear the smile in her voice. Neither of them spoke, Arnav was beginning to enjoy the silent companionship.
"Arnav?" She whispered?
"Yes?" He whispered back. She began to giggle.
"I thought you fell asleep. Anyway, I wanted to say thank you. What you said this evening, about giving me the choice, it means a lot to me." Arnav didn't know how to respond, he wasn't expecting this, not in the early hours of the morning anyway. She continued when she realised he wasn't going to speak.
"I know I say and do things that you find strange and weird and I don't know how much of myself I can change or should I say willing to change, but I can tell you that I will try, to make this work, to make you, us, happy. But I won't promise, not unless I know I can keep that promise." It was at times like this when Arnav could see the amazing woman he had known her to be. He adored her childlike innocence and could only hope that she never loses that as well as her antics. But with the maturity that she was handling their discussion on their relationship made Arnav realise she would no doubt be the perfect wife.
"Thank you for being honest." He simply said. He waited for Khushi to change the subject to a lighter tone. But there was silence.

Originally posted by: pri12

niceee...bt pm nhi kiya :'(