A THING CALLED LOVE :(1-39)PART49 IN NEW THREAD - Page 25

Khushi and Arnav are in the car.

ARNAV FILLED WITH MILLIONS OF REASONS TO SOLVE

KHUSHI FILLED WITH MILLIONS OF REASON TO UNSOLVE

A THING CALLED LOVE

10

The chauffer is driving the black 2013 BMW 7 series.

Khushi is looking at the car interior and admiring every angle. She looks up and smiles at Arnav.

Both are in the backseat, side by side.

Her hand rests inches apart from his.

Arnav's desire to touch her hand, becomes unbearable.

But he restrains his need, with all he has.

Arnav can smell her perfume and feel her breathing.

When ever Khushi glances out of the window, Arnav instantly steals a look at her.

Hearing her speak, touching her, seeing her reaction and now going for food, in his own car, all still seems a bit hazy.

Arnav talks to himself: "yes, she is here and she is real. No matter what happened and what she went through, she made the effort of coming back to me. I better stop daydreaming and focus on her completely. With a crazy mind like hers, I have to give full concentration.

Some things don't add up. But it will.

I will let her cool down a bit and am 100% sure, after she eats, she will spill the beans, well I hope and pray she does."

Arnav turns around slightly sideways to block Khushi's view of him and very slowly rises up his palm. He puts his left hand on his chest gradually, and tries to make sure whether his heart is beating or not.

Still he feels the last ray of trance remaining last night.

HOW CAN ALL THESE BE POSSBILE?

The girl, whom I did so much wrong with, the girl I married giving condition or ruining her sister and her, the girl whom I showed unbelievable rudeness, made her cry each time she tried to come close, taunted her for each motive, doubted beyond belief, trashed her soul for the rest of her life,

HOW CAN SHE STILL BE HERE ?

( he feels his heart beat,

His heart is beating all right, it's actually beating jaggedly)

dhak ! dhak !! dhak dhak !!!

Arnav lowers his hand and glances at her face, that is turned towards the window, a slight smile in her face, surprised eyes, looking at the streets and neighborhoods.

How can a person be so beautiful?

How can I be so lucky to know her, come across her?

And how can I be the one to be by her side at this moment?

( Arnav drowns into his own fantasies).

LOCATION:

INDIQUE HEAVEN

(5 star Indian restaurant in Sydney Harbor)

At the restaurant:

While eating, Arnav keeps on glancing at the wonderful creature sitting in front of him.

Those eyes, that smile, the loving gestures, those supple lips, the bindi on her forehead, her everything keeps him tied up.

She is smiling, looking around, chomping down food and licking her fingers.

She seems pretty fine.

The guests beside them, look at her and nods their head.

Khushi smiles back and says hello.

The dimmed spot light on her makes her skin glow like frost.

Hmm I think I will add spot lights to my bedroom.

Uff what am I thinking?

The idiot man in the black suit just cannot keep his eyes to himself.

His wife is just in front of him, she has her bare shoulders out and the silicon chest is half showing, still he has to look every time he takes a sip from his glass.

What an A**h***! Uff !

Here he goes again.

If Khushi weren't here, he would have been beaten into a dry toast by now.

Hmm there comes another one. Doesn't the waiter and the hotel manager have other things to do? Lurking around her?

The waiter already asked five times, if we needed anything else or not. Send lassis and samosas on the house.

Showoffs!

Well, men will be men, all dogs!!!

I cannot take my eyes off her; I don't blame the other men.

But still, if the black suit looks once more, the dinner plate will land on his face. I swear.

What? Again.? Damn it. I will kill that gadhe in grey pants in the opposite table. Did he even look at himself, before looking at her and what? Khushi now is smiling back.

Really?

You smile at that thing? That plumped up gulabjamoon wearing pants?

( Ting! Ting!)

Someone is calling. The cell beeps and vibrates on the table.

Khushi looks at it and says "Arnav Ji! It seems like India's number, will you pick up?"

At her words, Arnav's trance and self bashing of the other men comes to a stop.

He smiles and picks his phone up.

Looks at the number and excuses himself from the table and attends to the call:

(Feet's apart from Khushi)

( Call from India)

Arnav:

"Yes Mr Iqbal ! Thanks for the information. Yes, yes I know.

NO, I do not need the ticket number of flight details.

The person you are talking of, is in front of me.

Yes Khushi is here with me.

When did she arrive?

Oh ok.

So it has only been 2 days today.

Hmm'.thanks for the quick reply.

Also I appreciate your effort.

It was a hasty decision.

OH OK. Economy class.

Ok.

I know.

No problem.

Just keep an eye on Di and the rest.

And give me minute by minute details of that GUY as I asked to.

Ok bye. Thanks."

Arnav:

" Khushi ! it is ok if I make another call to Di?"

Khushi gets jolted.

She thinks: ( Why is he asking for my permission? Is he feeling ok?)

She smiles and nods her head saying ok.

She thinks:

Arnav JI! You are pretty weird. I never know what you are made of and how you will react.

BUT

In the next moment, she speaks up in a higher pitch and requests:

"ARnav Ji!

Please do not to tell Amma, Buaji about me. I did not tell anyone that I was coming;

They will be shocked and worried.

Let Di know, its ok, I know she is worried and at this state she don't need any sort of tension.

But please let not the others know. I do not wish to make them worried."

ARnav:

"Ok Khushi! I will tell only Di.

You ok with it, right?"

Khushi nods her head again, totally bewildered at his sudden gentleness.

Arnav:

"Hello ! Di !

Sorry to wake you up. I needed to tell you that I asked Aman to make a ticket for Khushi.

I actually needed her signature for the new venture.

I did not tell you, as you would have gotten worried about her coming alone.

I am sorry about asking you to call her before.

Di!

Please'I will explain when I come home. Things are very hectic here.

Please Di, try to understand.

WHAT?

WHAT DI!

Uff Di ! please.

Acha'Ok Di! I will apologize to you when I come back. And I will say it,

YES I missed her and couldn't bear staying away.

Happy to hear this? You are too much Di!

Yes, She managed well.

And now she is with me.

Yes Di . She is here with me.

Uff, Di please do not panic now.

She is fine and eating a Huge Dosa, half her own size. She had 3 samosas, 2 dahi vadas , 2 lassis and I donno what else.

Ok Di ! I will take care of her. Sure.

Please do not worry.

One more thing, Khushi didn't get to tell anyone back home. So please keep this to yourself.

I do not wish to make her family worried. Also please do not tell nani, mama or mamiji and also, please do not share with Jijaji! Please Di !

And please do take care. Keep the guards by your side.

Always.

Umm'..How is Jijaji? Where is he now?

'hmm..ok. I will take care of her don't worry.

Bye."

He makes another call:

"Mr Iqbal!

Its me again.

Make sure he stays put and keep a close eye.

I have asked my sister not to tell him about Khushi.

But she might, I do not trust her to keep secrets from that man.

The man will take any scope he gets to harm my family.

He might get rough or do something stupid after hearing about Khushi.

Please be very alert.

I will divert him soon.

Ok bye."

Khushi is chomping down her dosa and gulping the last glass of Mango lassi.

Arnav stares at her, even after his phone conversation got over.

He stays mesmerized.

In his head he thinks: " How can a tiny, size zero, thin girl like her, eat so much?

Where does the food go?

The dosa was minimum 2 feet long and she gulped it in less than 20 minutes.

MAN! I do love this girl,

No matter what she is, no matter how crazy she is , I do love her!"

A THING CALLED LOVE

11

He returns back and gets to his food.

During the whole dinner, Arnav did not say a single word, neither did Khushi.

Arnav spent his time, looking at her eat passionately and admiring her.

While Khushi devoured the food down, not letting him get a chance to speak.

Khushi:

"Arnav ji!

Good that you are eating.

The doctor said that the food will stabilize your pressure and blood sugar. And it will make it less stressful to deal with situations.

Umm……….I mean deal with anything that might be stressful in future, well never mind, finish your food."

Khushi is sweating a bit. Her plate is almost finished.

Arnav's palte is half full.

Khushi glances at his food and slows down her eating to match the pace.

She rubs her hands together and drinks water.

A bit restlessness surfaces up.

Arnav :

"Khushi! You seem to be a bit red.

Is everything ok?

Did you have chilli?

You are sweating.

What is wrong?

You suddenly seem to be in tension."

Khushi:

"No, I am fine. I think it's the food. I ate too much. (smile)

Please finish you food and take the medicine.

It will be easier for you."

Arnav:

" What do you mean?

What will be easier?

Why are you so worried about me eating?"

Khushi:

"NO, No I mean, it will be easier for you to keep the sugar level regulated."

"How is Jiji and Akash ji? Hope they are having a good time.

New York must be very beautiful. So many cars, big buildings, rivers, seas, people, times square, central park, museums, zoo: I have looked them up in the computer…so exciting.

I wish I had that much money to roam around the world. I am very happy for them.

Do you think Akash Ji is happy with Jiji?" she asks suddenly.

Arnav gets a bit surprised at her questions.

When she said, wish I had that much money, he wanted to say…that you have the money. But he stopped himself. He doesn't want to express anything and scare her talking about them as a couple and sharing wealth.

"Khushi!

Yes Akash is very happy. Your sister is a very good girl and she will make him very happy in life."

Khushi:

"I am happy for her. I believe Akash Ji will be by her side aswell.

No matter what comes in their way, their marriage will last."

Arnav ji!

How is Lavanya ji? ( she turns a bit off while asking, but goes on)

Arnav (shocked again at the unexpected question, he knows that the media has blew the news out of proportion when he was drunk and passed out, he knows that when he stayed at Lavanya and Mark's house, media publicized it as a night alone with Lavanya. The even spread rumors that there is a marriage plan in future with Lavanya.

And Khushi might have seen the news.)

Khushi: (does not give Arnav a chance to speak, rather goes on chattering: )

"Lavanya JI looked so nice , both times, during the party and the…umm..I mean..in the papers. I have seen her new pictures.

She is glowing. I might ask her what cosmetics she uses.

Very nice. Don't you think so?"

Arnav gets no clue what to answer. Cause if he starts about the media scene and the misunderstanding, the situation will get serious.

And he doesn't want to stress her to any content.

Arnav:

"Yes she is fine. I will ask her about her makeup. Shs is very up-to-date and fashion conscious.

She can fix an appointment for you if you want. They have very good makeup people.

Lavanya knows most of them.

Umm..Which picture did you see?

You said both time.

One in the party and another where?"

Khushi:

"Umm ..I meant 2 pictures in the same party from different angle.

There was also a guy with her.

Very good looking. Tall and handsome.

I was so amazed to see him. I guess he is Australian. He was in the picture where you and Lavanya JI were holding each other. He looked like one of those Hollywood heros.

Do you know him? Is he one of your friends? I would love to meet him."

Arnav wanted to clear the fact that Lavanya is engaged to Mark. The guy Khushi saw was Mark.

But jealousy took control.

She talk highly of him, made him burn.

So he kept his mouth shut.

Arnav:

"His name is Mark. I think he is ok, nothing special. Why are you so excited about him?

Khushi!

Finish your food before it gets cold. I am almost done.

You want any more deserts?

Your face is all red. And you are still sweating.

Are you feeling ok?"

Khushi almost shivers up and looks at him.

" Arnav ji! Umm…..we are almost done. ( she sighs deeply and says)

Here are your medicines.

Please take them now.

Doctor says it takes 10 minutes for it to start working.

Excuse me, I will be back in minutes."

Arnav stands up in an instant

"Khushi! What is it?

You need something?"

Khushi, standing says

"No, I am fine.

Arnav Ji! Umm…..I actually wanted to give…...umm..

Ok let me come back, I will tell.

I am just going to wash my hand. It got food on it. Take the pills, please. NOW."

She gets up and hurriedly walks towards the ladies' room.