Synopsis: Arnav and Khushi have reached Nainital where Arnav as usual starts his honeymoon with work and intends to continue that way. But as fate (Khushi) would have it he inadvertently end ups with Khushi on a road called as the Thandi sadak. Read the story below to find out how it happens.
Heat in middle of a cold road
Arnav had been driving for four hours. Payal and Akash looked cosy as they dozed in the back seat. Khushi sat in the passenger seat looking out of the window. She remembered her previous trip to Nainital where she had spent most of the journey in the trunk of Arnav's car. A smile stole into her lips as she remembered. She never got to see Nainital then.
As they entered the city limits Khushi was enthralled by its beauty. It was a place of lakes and mountains. It was beautiful, serene and green. The beauty of the place was obviously due to its abundant natural beauty but also because its old world charm was completely retained since the times of the British rule. It was hard not to notice the British touches in the roads, buildings and the cultural lodges.
They reached the hotel around lunch time and were shown to their respective rooms. Arnav, a few steps ahead of Khushi entered the room. 'What the ____?' he swore loudly.
Khushi walked in to see what was wrong. She took a few seconds to realize it. It was a honeymoon suite! It was a beautiful room with wood flooring and wood panelling on the walls. There was a large window with a view of a snow capped mountain. Next to the window, was a small coffee table and two chairs. There was a fire place in one corner of the room. But the most prominent item in the room was the huge four poster king bed that dominated the centre. Curtains adorned the posters giving it a royal look. There were rose petals on the white bed sheets.
Arnav picked up the phone and dialled reception, 'May I know why this room was booked for us?'
'Mr Raiza, your sister specifically asked us to book the honeymoon suite. We were only following instructions.' she replied nervously knowing very well who she was talking to.
'Damn!' Arnav banged the phone down. She just will not mind her own business, will she?
Khushi went into the rest room to freshen herself. The bathroom was huge. There was marble everywhere. There was a separate tub, shower cubicle and sink with long counter and an equally long mirror. Fresh towels monogrammed with the hotel logo were arranged neatly by the tub. The tub was filled with water and rose petals. The tub looked big enough for two people. Khushi went red when she realized the implication. She hurried out.
'We are meeting Payal and Akash for lunch downstairs at the restaurant' he informed her as he looked at her flushed face.
Khushi looked at the lovely shawl the hawker was showing her. Payal was looking at some artefacts. They were at one of the handicraft emporiums at the famous Mall road. Right after lunch, Arnav had dropped them off here before heading off with Akash to client's office for a meeting. Khushi and Payal were having a lot of fun at the market. It had been a while since they had spent time together. There were chocolate shops, clothes, artificial jewellery and tons of shops selling medicinal oils. They bought gifts for everyone and got back to the hotel in the evening.
Later that evening the four of them had meet for dinner at the restaurant. Khushi ate her paneer makhani and rotis that she had ordered. She didn't like it too much. The food at the Punjabi dhaba where she and Arnav had eaten just outside of Nainital was much better she thought. She also remembered how the dhaba aunty had forced her to wipe the lassi off Arnav's lips. The memory made her go warm all over and she closed her eyes.
Arnav looked at Khushi's face and said, 'Don't tell me that the paneer is that good'
Khushi quickly returned back to the present, a little flustered and realized that Akash was trying to tell Arnav about going somewhere.
'Bhai, tomorrow morning Payal and I plan to go to Binsar. It is supposed to be a beautiful place where we get to see panoramic views of the Himalayas. It will take us a few hours to get there, so we plan to leave early in the morning and get back before dark'.
'Sounds good, Akash. We don't have any meetings scheduled until the day after tomorrow. So you are free to do whatever you want'
'What are your plans bhai?' asked Akash.
'Oh I have work lined up because of my trip abroad. I will be working with Aman the entire day.' said Arnav seriously.
'Oh but what will Khushiji do then?' asked Akash alarmed.
'Don't you worry about me jeeju. I am sure there are lots of nearby places I can visit by myself. I might even go back to the Mall road. I think I will pick up that shawl I liked so much' said Khushi trying to put Akash and Payal at ease. She was determined to see that the two of them have a nice time with each other. She had not been happy when Arnav had whisked away Akash to work in the afternoon instead of letting him spend some time with Payal.
Back in the room, Khushi came out of the restroom all cleaned up and ready for bed. Arnav was by the window with his laptop on the coffee table. She went up to the bed and cleared all the rose petals and put them on the night stand. She then took one set of comforter and pillow from the cupboard and placed them on the chair. She then went up to the bed and lied down on it.
'What do you think you are doing?' asked Arnav looking up from his lap top.
'I hope you remember the deal we made back in Delhi. I get to sleep on the bed here.' said khushi switching off the night lamps on both sides of the bed. She then settled herself on the right side of the bed.
'Damn! ' swore Arnav.
Khushi smiled to herself before sleep claimed her.
Khushi sensed something was wrong. She realized her fingers were touching something bristly and rough. Her dhak dhak increased and woke her from sleep. She opened her eyes. Her right palm was on Arnav's cheek and the bristly feel was his stubble!
His eyes were wide open as well. She snatched her hand away as if burned and quickly got up from the bed.
'What are you doing on the bed?!' she shouted.
'Shut up Khushi! I couldn't get enough sleep last night.' Arnav mumbled.
'First tell me what you are doing on this bed? We made a deal that I would be sleeping on the bed' said khushi, her decibels rising as she spoke.
'Right! And that is where you slept. But you did not mention that I should not sleep on it, did you?' he asked with a smirk.
Khushi started to panic, 'Whaaat?'
'This bed is big enough. I put pillows in the centre of the bed. You sleep on your side and I will sleep on mine. I think that should work.'
'No way! I don't think that is going to work!' said khushi desperately.
'If you have trouble keeping your hands to yourself, then you are free to use the floor.' he replied cheekily and went back to sleep.
Khushi walked quickly to the rest room and shut the door with a bang. How dare he? The devil!
Arnav couldn't help laughing under his comforter. It was so much fun to rile her up that way. Jokes apart, in spite of what he had told khushi he was the one who was having trouble keeping his hands to himself. Back in Delhi, couple of days ago, he had almost kissed her and today was no less either. What could he do? She looked absolutely ravishing the first thing in the morning. Each day his control seemed to be slipping a little by little. Maybe he should go back to sleep on the floor. He discarded the thought when he remembered how his back had ached and went right back to sleep.
Later that morning, Khushi ate her breakfast in silence. Arnav had ordered room service for them. There was something intimate about the scene. It was just the two of them in the room. Arnav was working on his lap top holding his coffee in one hand. Khushi looked out of the window sadly. The snow-capped mountains beckoned to her. I wish I could come up there to see you Devi Maiyya she said in a silent prayer. One of the shop keepers at the market had told her about the Kasar Devi temple near Almora on the way to Binsar. Lucky Payal and Akash she sighed.
Arnav heard the sigh and looked up to see her watching the mountains sadly. His heart lurched at the look on her face. He forced himself to concentrate on his work. We are not really on a honey moon here he told himself sternly. He was glad when his cell phone rang and he walked out of the room to take the call. When he got back in about 10 minutes Khushi was nowhere to be seen. He continued to work for another 15 minutes. There was still no sign of Khushi. Where could she be? He checked the rest room to see it was empty. He then called the reception to find out if she was in the lobby.
'Yes Mr. Raizada, you wife came here half an hour ago. I think she might have gone to Thandi sadak, one of our sightseeing places. We advised her not to go there all alone, but she insisted on getting directions'
'What the ___! Why didn't you call me earlier?!' yelled Arnav and picked up his jacket before rushing downstairs.
Khushi walked slowly along Thandi sadak. This road as the name suggested was very cold as it was lined up with lush greens of pine, deodar and oak trees blocking the sub beams from reaching it. Just like Arnav. He had built walls around him blocking emotions from reaching him thus rendering him cold like Thandi sadak. But there were times when he wasn't like that at all. She remembered the time she was lost in the jungle and how he had come looking for her. Suddenly, she sensed that someone was watching her. She turned back to look. Her heart lurched with joy. It was Arnav!
He was angry. He walked up to her. He held her shoulder roughly and shook her. 'Do you have any sense in your head? What do you think you were trying to do? Why did you leave the hotel without telling me? What if something happened to you?'
Khushi's joy dissipated and anger replaced it. 'I thought you wouldn't notice that I was gone. You didn't have to worry. I know how to take care of myself!'
'It's not about worry! You are my responsibility. Let's go!'
Khushi was stubborn, 'Absolutely not! I came here to for a stroll and I will finish it'
He took another step close to her. 'Will you come back with me quietly or not?' he said his voice menacing.
'Is this man troubling you madam' one of the men in a group who were standing nearby had come up to them.
Not again, what is it with people in this country! They just kept butting in other people's business. 'This is a personal matter between husband and wife. Stay of it!' snapped Arnav.
'It doesn't look like your "wife" wants to go with you. We think you should leave her alone' he said pointing to his friends.
Khushi looked at the group of men. They reminded her of the goondas who had attacked her at the dhaba. She also remembered the rage with which Arnav had bashed up one of them because he had pushed her. She acted quickly.
'Haven't you ever seen fights between a husband and wife? Please go back to your friends and enjoy the scenery.' said Khushi to the man as he stood there staring at Arnav.
'Come on Arnavji. Let us go' said Khushi pulling on his hand.
Arnav kept staring back at the man.
'Alright! I am really really sorry for what I did. Now will you please come?' Khushi leaned into Arnav and whispered in his ear to get his attention. She succeeded.
Arnav looked at Khushi. She was holding his arm with both hands and her soft body was pressed up against it. Did she realize what that was doing to him? Time stood still. Looking into her big eyes, he raised his right hand up to her forehead. He wanted to move her unruly locks away from her face.
Khushi felt her dhak dhak increasing, her breathing swift. She closed her eyes. His fingers made a slow and hot trail down her hairline, behind her ear, continuing all the way down her neck, along her collar bone and then came to rest on her shoulder. Her body had started shaking when he leaned his head down until their noses were almost touching.
'That's ok Khushi. You don't have to be sorry' he said in a soft tone, almost a whisper.
Khushi opened her eyes. There were flecks of gold among the brown as she looked into his eyes, drowning in that brown velvet as they beckoned, enticed. Those few seconds had started to seem like an eternity as they stood transfixed. It was like the beauty and the serenity of the place had enchanted them and entrapped them in a whirlwind of emotions.
The sound of laughter brought them back to the present. They looked around to see a couple of kids looking at them. They quietly began to walk. The sensations that had overtaken them still had them in its clutches because it was only when they reached the hotel that they realized that they were still holding hands.
For the previous chapter:
FF Arhi: Himalayan Magic - Part 1
My next update is almost ready and here's a precap:
Arnav paid the rental for the bike and brought the bike to where Khushi was standing. When she looked up at Arnav she was completely zapped. It was a magnificent sight! ' the man and his machine. Arnav looked completely at ease with the bike. It looked like the bike was made only for him!
Next chapter:
The FFs below are sort of a prequel:
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
Sports
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