ARHI SS - Mujse Dosti Karoge? Chp 8 Page 114 - Page 11

Chapter 2

The eyes are the windows to the soul. What better example to prove this than the eyes which were staring unblinkingly into hers. The eyes which she knew would always haunt her thoughts, her dreams, her breath, every waking second that she spent in this mortal world.

And that touch. She would dream of that as well maybe till her last breath. Had she stopped breathing, had her deceitful heart as usual betrayed her & ceased beating. She stared at him trying to understand if her Devi Maiyya was actually having a mighty laugh at her expense.

He straightened her & said in that low, husky, trademark baritone "Kushi get into the car."

He had already reached the car, got into the driver's seat when Kushi finally came out of her trance & got her vocal chords working.

"Why should I come with you. I will not come with you."

"WT*"

There we go again she thought wearily. In a weird, twisted way, she was actually glad that at least all this heart break had not taken the edge off him. He was fighting back.

"Kushi stop fussing & get into the car."

"Please listen to me carefully because I will tell this only once. I don't want to see you, don't want to talk to you or listen to you or ever come in contact with you. I was not kidding when I said that I don't want anything to do with you guys & especially you. So just leave me alone. "

She turned & started walking nervously. The next moment she was swept off the ground & found her in his arms staring into those lovely, captivating eyes. Her hands automatically wound around his neck as if her entire body felt at home in his arms. He had deposited her on the seat, gone back to get her suitcase, stuffed it roughly in the back seat, got into the car, slammed the door shut & had started the car.

"Kushi fasten your seat belt."

His voice jolted her from her reverie & she realized that as usual he had managed to mesmerize her with his magnetism, arm twisted her into obeying his orders & they were on the way even before she could fully comprehend what had transpired.

She got the feeling of Dejavu.

"STOP THE CAR NOW."

"Kushi listen to me. I just……………………………………….."

"ARNAVJI STOP THE CAR NOW. I HATE YOU & DON'T EVEN WANT TO SEE YOU. DO YOU UNDERSTAND. I HATE YOU, I REALLY DO & I AM NOT LYING. NOW STOP THE CAR SO THAT I CAN GET DOWN.".

The car screeched to an abrupt halt. She saw him clench the steering wheel & rest his head on it. She immediately regretted her remark. OH how it must have hurt him.

What about the innumerable times when he had hurt her mercilessly by cruelly flinging the same words at her. Her mind reminded her.

But does that mean you hurt him in return. Is that what you want to see. Him in pain & agony.

"The door is unlocked Kushi."

The words interrupted her thoughts. Silently she got down from the car, shut the door & started walking. Her legs faltered & finally came to a complete standstill. She turned & was pained to find the car immobile. As if in automaton she trudged back towards it & stood by the door. Her heart stopped when she found him in the same position, his head resting wearily on the steering wheel. She tried the door & was disconcerted to find it unlocked.

She got into the car & was nervous to find him still not budging from his defeated stance. She gulped & then touched him.

"Arnavji…………………………."

She flinched on seeing his shattered face.

"I am sorry." She whispered.

He looked at her once again with those intense eyes & she felt herself unable to break the contact. Finally she managed to untie her tongue & whispered "Arnavji what do you want from me. What do you really want. I can't fight you not then, not now, never ever."

"Kushi I just want to talk to you. 30 mins. After that I won't disturb you or trouble you. I am sorry that I angered you. I dint mean to boss around. I… I just dint know how to convince you & hence carried you forcibly. Sometimes I just can't help it. I know it's wrong but somehow I still feel I ve a right over you. Have always felt like that since our first encounter. Took an excruciatingly long time to figure out why but then my brain always ceases working when it comes to emotions & feelings. Anyway won't happen again. I am sorry."

After all that had happened she still felt his pain as her own. She had always wanted him to suffer, crawl, grovel before her for forgiveness. But somehow every time he apologized her heart went out to him. She couldn't stand his pain. Even now she felt bad to see him broken & pleading with her. He was the mighty ASR. She just couldn't stand him bowed & defeated before anyone not even her.

She continued to stare ahead. Understanding her consent in her silence he started the car, turned & sighed.

Only when his hands slightly brushed her she realized that she had not fastened the seat belt. It was as if she had been electrocuted. She was still not immune to him or his touch.

GOD why did she agree to this. Why do you keep testing me Devi Maiyya. Don't you have any mercy on me?

The car skidded to a halt & she anticipated the now familiar GET OUT.

He merely got down, came around & opened the door all in total silence. He had caught the MUTE bug from her. All she could do was gape open mouthed. Then realizing her faux pas she clamped her trap shut & ambled down. She stumbled & felt him hold her firmly. So much for growing a spine & learning to be independent! HELL she couldn't even walk a few steps without falling in his arms. Why the hell could she not be independent, manage without his help. She still felt that Devi Maiyya was laughing heartily out there.

She glared at him & he removed his hands. She followed him & only after they had settled down did she properly take in the surroundings. They were in a jazzy coffee shop the same place where they had stumbled across PAYSH & had stuck a deal to get them together. GOD how much had happened since then. She still remembered his hand clutching hers after clinching the deal in his words & even back then she had felt strange sensations course through her the moment his hands had touched her.

"Kushi………………"

She broke out of her reverie to find him as usual staring at her.

"I ve only 30 minutes so let me make this really short & quick. I understand your need to sever all ties & start afresh but then WHAT NEXT. What do you actually want to do with your life. Have you given it a thought."

"And what business is that of yours. Why should I discuss my plans with you. Who are you to me. You are just a stranger."

"Ok I guess you want to vent out your frustration. Go ahead & continue to rant at me. You have earned the right to be extremely rude to me. I don't mind."

He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed & waited for her to continue.

"AAP………………. I mean Arnavji you……………….. I just want to say………………………"

She gave up. She just couldn't do it. She just couldn't scream at him, abuse him to her heart's glory, yell at him. As usual she lost to him. She could never win against him or maybe because she never really tried in her halfhearted efforts. She got up & was not surprised to find him holding her wrist gently.

"You promised me 30 mins & only 5 minutes have expired. Please sit down Kushi. I am done fighting with you. Haven't we already suffered enough?"

She complied & then realizing that he was right spoke in an exhausted tone.

"What do you want to know Arnavji."

"Same that I said a few minutes ago. What do YOU want. What is your immediate plan. What have you planned to do with your life."

"I want to study, resume my education."

She had blurted out unthinkingly & then looked at him expecting to find him looking skeptical.

"Any specific degree that you have in mind?"

She almost fell out of the chair. She had been expecting him to mock her, scoff at her lofty dreams. But this supposed interest shook her. She looked at him suspiciously but couldn't find any trace of sarcasm on his face, only genuine concern.

"Commerce. I was good in Maths & accounts. I used to help Babuji in his shop with all the accounts & that piqued my interest. Sadly maaji thought education was not for middle class town girls like us. She thought the only ambition a girl should have is marriage & children. For some time even I dawdled in the same dream fantasizing about chivalrous prince & having romantic notions about love & marriage. Big help it turned out to be. I have learnt that fairy tales are just that, tales to fool nave girls like me. In real world there are no prince charmings on white horse. Only morons who break your heart ruthlessly trampling all over you in the process, break you completely, watch your meltdown & come back to clobber you again into the ground."

She saw him flinch. Strike 1 for Kushi Kumari Gupta.

"Fine I will check out the top colleges for you & initiate the admission process. I will also arrange for you to stay in a nice hostel. I need all your certificates. Once I have the list of colleges ready we will decide which is best suited for you. Till I find an accommodation for you, you can stay in Lavanya's flat. It's still unoccupied. I will talk to her. Actually I don't want you to stay alone that's why opting for hostel. I need a few passport pictures of yours for the application forms. I also need to open a bank a/c for you to take care of your expenses. You need some decent clothes as well, maybe even a laptop. I remember you used to drive. Will get you a scooty so that you can get around. Also………………………………….."

He stopped first because he was shocked & second because Kushi had clamped her right hand over his mouth so it was physically impossible to talk.

"Arnavji please take a deep breath. I only said that I want to continue my education. Where in that entire conversation did I refer to you or about needing your help."

Arnav pushed her hand away & stared back at her, not backing off one inch.

"Oh really so let me ask you a few questions Ms I am always right & won't listen to anyone prick. How do you plan to pay for the fees. Operate a jalebi stall within the campus. And what about food & accommodation. Planning to kip on the road side is it? And if someone attacks you while you are dozing on the road side. This world is full of ASRs & Shyams. How do you plan to protect yourself. Is this how you repay the love & faith reposed in you by your babuji. By throwing away your life recklessly just for the sake of proving a point. What do you want? Show me the middle finger right. Fine here is your chance. Get it done & dusted so that we can move on. I am tired of all these stupid games & fights."

Kushi simply gaped at him. It was she who always ranted without pausing even for breath but it was a classic role reversal with Arnav talking nonstop. All this while he was running his hands through his disheveled hair & again she only felt affection for this enigmatic man sitting opposite to her. The man who broke her heart, the man who made her heart soar, the man who taught her how to hate & also the man who taught her how to fall in love.

"WHAT???????????????" The disgruntled ASR was back leaving behind zilch traces of the cute Arnav.

"What do you mean by showing the middle finger Arnavji. Why only that finger & not the others & why do you want me to show it to you."

He stared at her innocent, angelic face for a few seconds & then burst out laughing. Her heart did several back flips. Why did he keep giving her heart attacks by laughing like this? She saw several girls in the shop openly stare at him, apparently transfixed & she was attacked by a bout of jealousy.

"Arnavji glad to know that I am still a source of amusement to you. After all I am the girl with no DIMAAG right & you if I remember r the mighty ASR with no heart. So why this sudden urge to help all & sundry. How come the mighty ASR wants to help a nave, uncouth, low aukaad Lucknow girl."

He was taken aback by the sudden onslaught & simply stared at her. The smile was completely wiped off his face & she felt a pang of guilt for being the reason behind that. How cute & endearing he looked when he smiled. But when he laughed, real loud like a child all hell broke loose. No wonder he rarely smiled & never laughed. Else he would be mobbed by women. Even now all those fan girls were continuing to gaze at him longingly. He followed her gaze & was confused to find only a gaggle of girls who seemed to be giggling & whispering. She had followed every action of his & his confused look only set her heart racing again at alarming speed. GOD this guy would be her death.

"Kushi……………………" this time he actually shook her mildly to break her trance.

"Are you ok?"

He was leaning towards her, concern, love, affection oozing in every line, frown on his face. She traced with her eyes that sexy stubble, the tousled hair & finally the best part of his face. The one which she loved the most his eyes & she felt a lump in her throat.

He saw her eyes mist over & her pain assaulted him once again shredding his heart into million pieces.

"Kushi………………………." He whispered. "I dint intend to mock you. I just found your innocence very cute. That's all. I am sorry."

She closed her eyes. Hey Devi Maiyya I prayed to you to make me forget him, stop loving him. And how do you answer my prayers by sending me bang right into his arms.

"I promise that I will look after her, protect her from that creep. I will ensure that no one hurts her. You have the word of Arnav Singh Raizada."

Arnav clenched his fists. Images flashed through his mind.

Kushi helping him up & feeding him jalebi.

Kushi hugging her desperately in the hospital.

Kushi curled up in a ball near his feet.

Kushi falling asleep in his arms.

Kushi tending to his daffodils.

Kushi holding him in her arms & comforting him.

Kushi undressing before him.

Kushi kissing him erotically. Making love to him both innocent & sensuous at the same time.

Kushi leaving him broken & shattered.

"Kushi just allow me to help you. Please…………………." His voice broke.

She opened her eyes.

"I promise that once I get you settled in your college & arrange for accommodation & finances I will not disturb you. In accordance with your wish you don't have to see my face, hear my voice. You won't find me anymore in your life. I… I promise you. I won't come into your life again………………..". His voice broke again. He gulped & looked away though his eyes gave him away. They were misty.

He felt her hands on his & turned slowly.

"I can't accept that!"

He felt his world crumbling around him. He got up slowly.

"I won't let you off the hook so easily. What do you think Mr Arnav Singh Raizada. That you can get rid of me so easily. Remember you are dealing with Kushi Kumari Gupta. What the hell do you mean by not seeing me or speaking to me. Don't you dare abandon me again. I will seek you out & murder you. I will… I will……………." She stammered. She was horrified to find tears streaming down her cheeks. She moved her hands but he was too fast & beat her. She felt his fingers wiping away her tears gently. It was a loving caress. Before she got back to her senses he had removed his fingers.

"So Kushi this is the deal. I have come to you not as the ruthless business tycoon ASR, or the arrogant husband Arnav or the selfish brother chote. I would just like to be your friend. Nothing more Nothing less. No strings attached. No expectations. THO BATAO Mujse Dosti Karoge?"

She looked at his extended hand & then shook it warmly. He smiled at her & she suddenly remembered something. She knew that she was being cruel & would be brutally wiping that lovely smile off his face but she was determined. This time there would be no mistakes & no looking back.

"But Arnavji I have 2 conditions. Only if you agree to those 2 conditions can I accept your offer."

"Condition????" Arnav was startled by the uncharacteristically grim expression on her face.

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Sigh me & my big suspense. It fell flat on its face since most of u guessed correctly that the new friend is none other than Arnav

u r guys r too good for me 😆

Guys LIKEs & comments r just drying up. Those in my existing PM who are not interested in this new SS please drop me a message so that i wont spam ur inbox.

conditions :O

wot are the conditions.. o.O

btw gr8888 update

continue soon

take care... :)