Rules Of Attraction ( Updated Part 21)- Pg 139 - Page 14

Khushi entered into the warmth of her hostel room, finally letting go of the tears that had easily welled up in her eyes after her brief encounter with Arnav. The tears weren't because of him, but due to the extreme exhaustion she had been through the last two days. The chemo'and everything always managed to burst the weak walls she tried to build around herself to hold back her fear, her frustration, and her anger at life.

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Heading towards the bathroom, she stood under the shower with closed eyes, letting the cold water sluice down her face, the arch of her neck, as her thoughts drifted back to time when they were still in Lucknow.

Her father sitting beside her on the weathered rocks near the lake, where she sat, her feet dangling into the cold water of the pool. Her father watched her, as she smiled oblivious to anything and anyone in the world, gently moving her tiny feet to and fro in the water, creating small ripples. The dusty evening with the now paling sun was a witness to all those evenings when Khushi sat with him on those very rocks, doing nothing absolutely, her father sometimes looking at her, sometimes into the emptiness surrounding them, wondering about the mysteries the future held. That particular evening, coincidently just before the day of the fire, he spoke a few words to Khushi.

Remember Khushi'remember that one day you'll grow up to become a strong woman, and you will fulfill all your dreams, fall in love, and live a happy, content life.

Khushi did not know what those words meant then. But growing up over the years, their meaning had begun to seep into her mind. If he had been alive, he would have been proud of her, she was strong.

The tears spilled down her face again. She wondered, was she really strong? If only he had been here today, beside her, saying words of courage, his kind eyes looking down at her.

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She got dressed mechanically, wanting to just bury her pounding head into the pillow. She gulped down all her medicines in go with the glass of water and was about to hop onto the bead, when she heard two loud knocks on the door. The noise was familiar, thought Khushi.

'It couldn't be him, not again.. .' she whispered to herself, silently wishing it would be him.

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She opened the door, her eyes greeting the sight of a silently bent head.

'I'm sorry' I am really sorry 'I didn't mean to.. I didn't know.. .' Arnav was struggling with the words, trying to form a proper sentence.

Khushi looked at the man before her. Admiring his strength, his simple act of coming up to her and saying sorry made her forget her throbbing headache. Men made mistakes, but only a few had the courage to own up to them and then apologize.

'Arrey, its okay, really, it was a stupid misunderstanding, happens...' she managed to say as her eyes began to moisten at the sight of his pain stricken face.

----

Arnav looked down at her beautiful face. It seemed exhausted beyond measure. And her bloodshot eyes told him she had been crying. With one more glance at her face, he pulled her into an awkward embrace. Not a hug, more like he slid on arm over her shoulders and she immediately put her head down on his chest.

Khushi didn't know what was happening, but let she fall into the cocoon of the comfort his arms seemed to offer. Then she felt it. The slight brush of his lips above her ear, a feather light kiss landing into her messy hair.

Arnav didn't mean to do it. But he involuntarily kissed her hair gently, inhaling the scent of what felt like morning dew. If he had is, way he would bury his face into her hair and just be there for a long, long time. He felt her stiffen slightly as she gently moved away from him and smiled at him.

'Want to come in?' Khushi asked, looking back at Anu's sleeping form.

Arnav followed her into the room silently.

----

She leaned onto the table beside the window and looked up at him. The word 'attractive' would have been an understatement to describe the man now leaning on to the door, arms crossed, brooding over something as usual, looking down at his feet.

'So'' he finally started speaking.

'So..?' Khushi asked, amused at the usage of the word 'So' which he almost used every time he attempted to start conversation with her.

'Who was that guy with you?'

'Told you, a friend, actually one of my best friends.'

Arnav watched her as he saw her face looking off into another direction clearly drifting away with her continuous sting of thoughts as she spoke with all the sincerity she could come up with. He knew that the man was someone really close to Khushi, he believed her.

Khushi thought about the day she had met Ajay. She was supposed to meet the mystery guy in her best friend Shalini's life. Shalini had been constantly bunking school to wander off with Ajay and Khushi was eager to meet him. They had hit it off immediately. He had struck her as a man who was incredibly loyal, simple and most of all responsible. She didn't know then that he would become her doctor or one of her closest friends or probably the brother she never had.

'You, okay?' Arnav asked, slightly concerned.

'Yes, yes, you were saying something?' Khushi asked.

'Could we be, you know, friends?' Arnav asked, starting to feel a little stupid.

'Okay, I would like that,' she laughed softly.

Arnav took in her laughing face, and opened the door.

'So I will see you tomorrow,' he said heading out of her room.

She smiled and just as he had turned to walk, he felt a gentle tug at his hand. He turned back to look at his hands now enveloped by her dainty ones. The feel of her soft skin, he couldn't miss the fact that her hands fitted perfectly in his, almost like they were carved out, only for him.

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'I've have a condition,' she spoke hesitantly, taking in his amused face. 'If we become friends, I've a condition.'

Arnav simply cocked his head to the side, his eyes questioning her.

'You've have to promise me that you won't fall in love with me, ever.'

Khushi stated, with sheer determination, her voice shook, but she managed to say it. She had not missed his kiss on her hair. She hadn't missed the way he would look at her. That penetrating gaze, that left her trembling, always. She knew that she had feelings for Arnav. She felt at home, protected, when he was around. But she knew all her feelings or maybe even his, that is if he had any, were baseless, futile. Because at the end of the day, she knew, it would hurt them both, rather destroy them.

Arnav looked at her. She had a smile plastered on to her face. A very sad smile. He wouldn't deny it, he liked her. He found her presence healing, pleasant. She was beautiful; she knew what she wanted from life. She was different, and they had a connection. Probably just mere attraction, lust, but love? He hadn't felt that in a long, long time. The very idea of it seemed very far-fetched.

'Okay ' I won't fall in love with you,' Arnav said nonchalantly.

'Promise?' she pestered on.

'Promise,' he whispered into the air.

The wind blew violently, brushing across their faces, almost mocking at their stupidity. The rustling of the leaves added to the the wind's thoughts, wondering what the future held for them.

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