Chapter 8 - Contd..
She knew he had seen her and immediately darted back to her room closing the door behind her. She leaned on the door for support. She felt her legs go weak and her heart was beating fast. He looked better than she had imagined he would without a shirt she thought to herself. Seeing him like that had made her feel uncomfortable and she started blushing immediately after the thought crossed her mind. "Ayye Devi Mayyia!! Why do you keeping doing this to me??" She asked in a worried tone.
He jumped out of bed and sprinted after her. He was standing in front of her door in nothing but his PJ bottoms. It had been a hot night so he opted out for the a Tee. She had seen him and more importantly she had heard him. And the stupid walls and doors in this house. Too thin for any privacy he thought. He needed to talk to her. Explain to her. "Explain what? That I dream of her every night? That sounds pathetic" But he had to say something to her.
He mustered up all the courage he had and gently knocked on the door. She was startled and shocked. She turned towards the door and decided to see who it was. Maybe it was Jiji or Buaji. It can't be him. He would never come to her door this late at night.
She slowly opened the door ajar to see who it was and was greeted by a shirtless Arnav staring at her. He looked scared and so did she. She she shut door in his face before he had a chance to speak.
"Please open the door"
"No"
"Please open the door Kushi before someone sees me like this"
"No"
"I'm not leaving until you open the door"
He was stubborn and she knew he would stand there the rest of the night if he sets his mind to it. What would the other do if they see him like this at her door. No no it would be better if she opened the door and hear him out. But he needs to put on some clothes. She won't speak to him when he's half naked.
"Fine I will. But please put on a shirt first"
"Shirt?? Oh shit ok, ok. Give me a minute" He said realizing the state that he was in running to his room to grab a shirt. He was back in under a minute and knocked on the door again.
She opened the door and looked at him. He did have a shirt on, but he still made her blush. She moved away from the door.
"Can I come in Kushi?"
"Fine. Only for 5 mins"
"Thanks" he said while he walked in and noticed that she took a few steps back as he walked toward her.
"What do you want?" she asked him still refusing to make eye contact
"Nothing really. Just wanted to talk"
"Talk? About what? The last time we talked, you were not very nice to me"
"Kushi please. Just for once hear me out this one time"
"No, there's nothing left for you to say" she retorted angrily.
"KUSHI!" His voice was suddenly angry. She knew she had pushed a button and he knew it too. He let out a deep breath and continued on.
"Stop being so goddamn stubborn and just listen to me for once. All I'm asking is for 5 minutes of your time"
"Fine. Speak"
"It's been a year and it's time we try to make amends. Payal is due in a few weeks and I know she would love to have you here during the birth the little one. I don't want us to try to avoid each other because it's just hurting the ones we love. I want you to be able to come to this house and see your Sister and your Niece as you wish. I don't want you to sneak around my back. No more walking on egg shells"
Kushi looked up at him suddenly stunned. He cared about something other than himself. He cared about her Jiji and the new niece that was about to be part of the family. He truly amazed her.
"Fine. Is that all?"
"No"
"You have more to say?? Intersting"
"Yes I have more to say and stop being so sarcastic" he said looking directly at her eyes.
"I don't want us to be like this"
"Be like what?" she asked with more surprise in her voice
"Like bloody Tom and Jerry!!" he said
She laughed. It was a real laugh and he hadn't heard it in so long. She relaxed a bit he noticed and he was happy. He smiled at her. Something that was rare in Arnav Singhe Raizada's world.
"Kushi I'm not asking you to be my best friend. Let's start off by not trying to kill each other. How does that sound?"
"Fine by me. But it's you who needs anger management" she said knowing that he had to be told the truth. Her directness surprised Arnav. She always surprised him.
"If you stop calling me Laad Governor all the time, maybe I will stop acting that way!!" He told her with a smirk.
"Ok Ok. I will try to be nice. But not because of you. I am doing all of this for my Jiji. So don't get all smug thinking that I would do whatever you ask me too... Got it?"
"Whatever you say Kushi"
"Ok good night then" she said.
"Good night. I'll see you tomorrow" he said
He turned away walking towards the door when she suddenly call out to him
"Arnav Ji" she said for the first time saying his name in a long time
"Yes Kushi?"
"What were you dreaming about?"
"Nothing Kushi. Just a silly dream"
"So then why were you saying my name in your slee?" She asked while his back was still turned to her
"It was nothing Kushi"
"Nothing like Diwali last year?" Kushi asked.
It was his turn to feel uncomfortable. He stormed out before she could see his reaction. He had thought about that night over and over again. Things were so different back then and he regretted not kissing her that night. But he wasn't about to let her know that now was he.
Kushi shut the door behind her and decided it was time to sleep. But she knew she couldn't sleep. So she picked up her laptop and tried to finish up for the night. She spent another hour being distracted before she finally realized that she was not gong to get any work done or get any sleep. She just lay in bed hoping and praying that she had made the right choice agreeing to all of this.
So I had to get these 2 to start talking and what better than a shirtless Arnav. It seems that both of them have grown up since their last encounter. I don't see them forgetting what happened.. But at least now they can be in the same room with each other without causing a scene.
As for the Tom and Jerry reference.. After I watched my first IPKKND episode I immediately thought of it and they kinda do go at each other like a cat and mouse 😳
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