Chapter 12
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
11.20 AM, Gotts Park Mansion House, Leeds, England
He trailed down the hallway in a sleepy state still clad in his black silk pajamas and a red T-shirt. The night before was passed tossing and turning in guilt and remorse. What was he thinking? He still had no answer to it. However, he knew that he had to apologize to Khushi as much as he would abhor it. He was out of line. It was close to lunch time and Arnav cringed at the noises attacking his pounding head. "Shut up," he growled at the kid who happened to be Varun or was it Karan? He descended down the stairs in a tired gait. He felt like he had just run a marathon; his body screamed in agony as he reached the top of the main stairwell and finally slid into the plush sofa in the living room. "Get me some bloody water!!" he yelled while he put his head against the head rest and closed his eyes to stop the blazing pain in his eyes.
Then his ears picked up a faint sound of shrill music accompanied by a loud, obnoxious attempt at what he could comprehend as singing. As if other gleeful noises weren't puncturing his ears already, this horrible raspy voice was acting as the cherry on top. He took an exasperated sigh as he felt the couch next to him being occupied by someone; he heard loud shrill sound blasting out of the headphones. "You wanna know how to make me smile; Take control, own me just for the night; And if I share my secret; You're gonna have to keep it; Nobody else can see this…" Arnav's eyes were still glued shut; he had no energy in him to even move a muscle and he gritted his teeth as the obnoxious voice clearly wasn't shutting up. It continued, "So watch and learn; I won't show you twice; Head to toe, oooh baby rub me right…"
At the latter statement, Arnav snapped his eyes open and in his delirious state fumbled with his thoughts. What he saw next stumped him (that's right it is his turn to stumble and fumble ;) ) Khushi Kumari Gupta perched in the nearby seat, slightly panting and sweating in her loose white cotton shirt and green running shorts. Her foot shook in rhythm as she perched leg on top of other. She had no idea what she had uttered, or that pathetic attempt she would call singing. He was looking for a way to please her and apologize to her. It seemed like the gods of irony were mocking him, or giving him an opportunity. Her tied hair clung to her sweaty neck and Arnav felt a sudden need to push it away from her smooth neck to breathe in her familiar scent. She had her eyes closed while her head rested against the back of the sofa and continued, "I have got the moves like jagger," in the shrillest tone that he was jolted out of his sinful thoughts. His head pounded hard and he had been deprived of water till now. Where the heck is everyone, he mumbled. Khushi still continued to sing and he could not take the torture. He stood up with a slight head rush, strode over to her, held her by her upper shoulder and straightened her to stand on her toes. Khushi had no time to react because she was thinking of a certain hottie named Adam Levine; the next thing she discovered was glancing into pools of brown liquid. "Shut up!" he snarled and his lip curled in anger.
Khushi was spent from her run but she didn't expect to be jolted out of her senses and she glared at the owner of those brown eyes. He glared at her murderously and a thunder some expression harboured in his eyes. She felt his fingers dig hard into her flesh and she winced slightly. This caused Arnav to widen his eyes in awareness that he was hurting her.
It dawned upon him that he was doing more damage to this weird mess between them by pulling her closer to him. He had planned on going up to her apologize, but she aggravated him to no end; it was all because of her that he wasn't blessed with any sleep; it was because of her that yelled at Aman who didn't send an expired lease contract to him; it was because of her that his head was throbbing in pain; it was because of her that he felt his own sanity being questioned. Confused thoughts clouded his brain and he felt Khushi push him away slightly.
"Hey, yeah I just went for a run…" Khushi managed to splutter out. Akash stood a few feet away from them completely nonchalant at the odd position they were previously in. It appeared very much ordinary to see Khushi bantering or fighting with the members of his clan. "It is quite a good weather today," she said as she finally put safe distance between her and Arnav.
"Well," Akash said as he perched himself on the sofa and continued, "get dressed you two… Payal and Anjali need to discuss something with all of us, so go shower and meet us in the dining hall for lunch."
"Yeah, of course, I should shower… see you in a bit," she said hurriedly and ran up the marble staircase.
Arnav, you are such a pervert and a weirdo, he mumbled and scratched his head. "Hello…" Akash walked up and snapped his fingers to catch Arnav's attention. "What!" Arnav snapped his voice and glared at Akash. "I guess his highness needs an individual invite… Well, O Thy Highness, please grace us with your presence in 45 minutes in the dining hall."
Arnav opened his mouth to speak but Akash cut him, "nuh uh uh… do not dare say that you cannot come… Payal has not forgotten what you pulled last night, and then disappeared before the family retired."
"Get moving …you look like you could use that shower!" Akash's voice echoed down from the hall and before Arnav could retort, he disappeared leaving Arnav to dwell yet again on his impulsive actions.
~~oOo~~
12.43 PM, Gotts Park Mansion House, Leeds, England
Khushi absentmindedly dispensed more rice; her appetite unexpectedly vanishing. She tipped her wine glass against her lips to finish off the mild alcoholic beverage and played with her food. She still has not heard from any of the publishing houses; she was currently living with her parents; she was stuck in the house with her worst nightmare… nope, her life prospects were looking too bright. "Khushi!" unison of voices brought her out of her ministrations and cursing spree about her life. "Huh… yeah," she looked up to face Payal and Anjali. "Arnav!" Payal snapped her fingers because he was also lost in his never ending thoughts.
"God, what is with these long faces… it's my wedding! It seems like everyone has forgotten about it… no wonder, everyone is gone to do their own respective shopping today in Manchester. The house seems so depressed now," Payal complained and Akash quickly came to the rescue.
"Are you kidding babe, everyone is so happy and I am sure whatever you were going to discuss will just get us," she glared at him and he hurriedly corrected himself, "I mean, them… will get them in the wedding spirit." He hugged her and threw his arms around her shoulders from behind her and perched his head in the nook of her neck. She visibly relaxed when she breathed his scent, and slowly leaned against him.
"Well, yes, then I suppose Anjali and I have something to discuss with you… especially Khushi and Arnav," Payal spoke completely missing two much tensed faces at the mention of their names. Khushi's choked on her water, and Arnav looked at Khushi's red face and quickly averted his eyes the moment Khushi shot him a glare. What is with her glares, he pondered.
"What about them, baby?" Akash murmured against her neck and moved over to the chair next to hers. "Well, since we have the sangeet function and the mehndi on the same day, we need a few people from your clan to perform at the function. And, since I have cousins who are willing to do so, we need a few more. Anjali is more than ready to do it alone, and then there is your mom and dad, but I was wondering whether Khushi and Arnav could possibly do one?" Payal looked at them with hope. Khushi had literally coiled her entire body into the chair while Arnav thought it was the joke of the day. The man of his stature couldn't possibly be seen dancing like a monkey at his brother's wedding!
"You must be kidding me!" he roared. "You want me to perform… newsflash… I don't think so!"
"Uh, I really have two left feet," a meek voice also supported the roaring statement in a less direct way.
The relaxed stance was gone, and now Payal was also slightly angry but she knew anger wouldn't get her anywhere. So, she went with the next best thing, emotional blackmail. "Fine, go do whatever you want… I really thought that maybe you guys could be a version of Akash and I and show our love story through music… but no… don't! I am stressed to the max; my mother dearest has all rilled up with these unnecessary functions and when I want to make them somewhat enjoyable to my guest, my own friends and family don't want to help!" she sniffed while Akash quickly hugged her and shot a glare over to his brother. Anjali was also pleading silently with her eyes. What is up with glares and pleading looks, he wondered.
"We saw you guys last night, and the way it looked like… you guys simply looked like you were moving amazingly well with each other." Anjali spoke up as well. Khushi paled at the sudden memory cropping up in the back of her mind and she shifted in her seat, gazed towards Arnav and met his eyes. She continued, "But we wouldn't have asked but her cousin seemed to have sprained her ankle and she can't do it. And I don't want to ask Khushi to dance with a random stranger." Payal sniffed again, distracting their fervent thoughts. She clearly looking like this wedding was stressing her every nerve. Khushi knew it was because she was the only born of her parents and her mother wanted to live every single moment of her wedding.
Khushi simply couldn't put the girl in more misery already and guilt engulfed her entire being. "Fine, I will do it… don't cry Payal," Khushi sauntered over to Payal and hugged her whilst she was still locked in an embrace with Akash.
Arnav's mouth was left hanging open. Seriously, he shook his head. What a bunch of Hollywood freaks.
Everyone with the exemption of Khushi looked at him with hopeful stares and before he could comprehend the magnitude of his words, he had uttered, "Fine!"
~~oOo~~
3.10 PM, Gotts Park Mansion House, Leeds, England
Khushi after much contemplating left her room and skipped down the grand staircase in a snail like pace. She had cursed herself for being so nice, and then she had cursed herself for letting her stupid differences with Arnav to get in the way of Payal's wedding. If it meant so much to Payal, they ought to give it a try, no matter how much she wanted to rip off Arnav's big, egoistic head, she mused.
She entered the grand living room where she saw Payal and Anjali waiting impatiently. "Took you a while," Anjali said in an exasperated tone. "I was just cleaning up… anyhow let's do this… but if this doesn't work out, then you cannot force us." Khushi stated as they started walking towards the back of the mansion and out to the huge back concrete deck that joined the mansion to the back lawns. The space was decorated with tons of white lilies, marigolds and tasteful lights. The day was as clear and hot and Khushi relished the fact that she wore her knee length dark green tank dress with white Pokka dots along with a thin red belt and black ballet flats. She wore a light white cardigan to cover her exposed arms. She whipped her head with sudden jerk when she saw that Payal had indeed called a dancing instructor and realized that Payal was rather serious about this entire thing. She was waiting that she would eventually feel a sting on her arm when someone would slap her out of her prolonged day nightmare about her worst enemy and her grooving to music. "You are not serious about a dance instructor!" Khushi's voice betrayed her and faltered slightly. The dance instructor was an Indian male, maybe in his early thirties, wore jeans and a white T-shirt. "Of course I am." Payal said and before she could say anything else, the instructor picked up the IPod dock remote and pushed play.
"You cannot be serious!" spoke an angry and frustrated voice that Khushi knew all too well whom it belonged to. Khushi spun around to face the owner of the growling tone and saw him in an impatient but hushed conversation with Payal. She studied that he was still clad in dark blue jeans and a black T-Shirt. All the while, Teri Meri continued to play in the background. "This song… of all the melodious tunes and songs that exist in the world…you choose this ear blasting noise," Arnav complained as he walked towards Khushi, who was still gawking at him. Khushi knew why Payal had chosen it; hell, she had been ranting and raving about how this song was just the perfect way to describe them. She didn't see it, but if the bride held a vision, then no one messed with that. It was a rather anguish filled melody and she had been forced to listen to it from the very first day. If it wasn't blaring from some room, Payal was humming it.
Khushi was rudely jolted out of her thoughts when someone roughly grabbed her right hand and slipped another around her waist, pulling her closer to a tall, lean body. "Let's get this over with," he mumbled but he knotted his brows at his partner's aloof look. He smirked and whispered against her ear, "You know, it is rather true." Instantly, Khushi's limbs froze and she passed him a confused look. She then looked back at his T-shit that read 'Remember my name; you'll be screaming it later'. She glared at him, but by now, he was used to her icy cold scowling look. "Could you be more conceited," she growled fiercely at him as he straightened himself. Her scent was playing with his head again. For a while, he remained quiet and realized that she had a smirk planted on her lips. He raised his eye brows at her, so she knows how to smirk, and she is smirking at me rather than glaring… progress, he mused.
"Alright you two, first you will be pulling her closer to you, then you will be twirling her like this," he took Khushi's hand away from Arnav's grip and twirled her, while she yelped at the sudden head rush. When the instructor was done explaining them their moves for the starting stanzas, Khushi hesitantly moved her hand back into his grip. The memories of last night refreshed when he twirled her and she collided with his chest. She gritted her teeth and dug her nails into his palm, purposely. "Ouch, someone seems rather feisty today," Arnav said as they moved along the dance floor. When he tried to twirl her again, he lost his grip on her hand, and Khushi went stumbled back. "Someone seems rather f**ked up," she growled so that only Arnav could hear. He held her back in his grip, and they began from the beginning.
What followed later could only be described with one word: disaster.
Arnav and Khushi seemed to be tangled in their own world as they bumped and injured each other. They stepped onto each other's toes, lost their grip, and tumbled out of control. Khushi bruised Arnav every time he twirled her or tried to dip her. They both seemed locked in their own war, with their tongues lashing sarcastic and witty remarks at each other's expense, and with their bodies, as they continued to bruise each other.
When Arnav realized how she was unleashing her anger towards him, he was instantly reminded of that fact that his apology was overdue. He tried to get close to her ear so that he could whisper his quick apology, but she pushed him away in the fear of replaying last night's incident. He accidentally dropped Khushi because he trying to dip her and the dance instructor couldn't take it anymore, and yelled, "That is it… I have never seen worse buffoons trying to "dance" than you two. So go far away from my sight before I literally combust into flames!" Arnav scowled at the dance instructor, and wished to rip him into shreds but he had to pick the girl he so mercilessly dropped needed his help. "Maybe the heat has finally seeped through your bald head before it was just blindingly hitting the top and blinding our eyes," Arnav snapped at the instructor, clearly hitting a nerve and rounded himself to help Khushi.
Khushi huffed with anger as she picked herself off the ground, ignoring the extended hand of her worst nightmare. "I," he spoke but she dusted her clothes and stalked towards Payal, who looked rather horrified with the display of their dancing abilities. "Uh, Rakesh… I think you are rather right, this seemed like a bad idea… granted that Akash and I fight, but this was…" she was at loss of words. "Khushi, I think you were right… this was a bad idea. I am sorry I made you do it. But, last night, you guys seemed in sync," Payal spoke as she held onto Khushi's arm and tried to salvage the situation. Any more insults or taunts, and Payal knew Arnav would have the guy's head roasting on the barbecue.
"Spur of the moment," Khushi mumbled, completely horrified at her actions because of the slight effect of the alcohol along with her raging emotions. She more horrified at the fact that everyone noticed them dancing together when they never even exchanged words before that. She looked at Arnav who was also slightly red with what she assumed was embarrassment. However, Arnav was red only for a different matter. He glared at the dance instructor at the abrupt way he ended their dance or whatever they were doing. He was so damn close to apologizing to her, and then he had gone ahead and dropped her!
Before he could put in a word more, Khushi gave him a final scowl and ran back into the house. She was completely on edge as she shut her door and scampered off towards the washroom. She couldn't take it anymore. His scent was everywhere. He was everywhere. The smell lingered in her room and on her clothes and on her skin. Either that or she had finally lost it. She showered and scrubbed herself, completely at loss with her own faltering emotions. The anger was still at all-time high. The stupid git had to drop her in front of everyone, she mumbled.
She changed into a mineral washed denim full sleeved shirt along with coral harem pants. Deciding to leave her hair open, Khushi grabbed her favorite book and skipped down to the back lawns as the sun still playing hide and seek with the clouds.
Meanwhile, Arnav had retired to his study. His mind was already heady with raging question regarding his curiosity with his sister's best friend. He thought hard with astonishment at the fact that his sister could be friends with such a girl. But, then again she did get along with everyone in his family and his extended family. She did talk to him more than usual since last night, hell; she never talked to him earlier than previous night. But before he could dwell further into his thoughts, his phone went off and his assistant briefed him about the office dutifully.
~~oOo~~
6.30 PM, Gotts Park Mansion House, Leeds, England
"Well, my parents had an arranged marriage, but they seem so much compatible with each other, it could be called love," Khushi said as she sipped onto her red wine. Much to her liking, she was enjoying having wine once in a while… more now since she resided with people who had a passion for drinking it. Pretty soon, her blood will be replaced with wine and her heart will be supplying wine to her entire system, she mused. She had drunken more alcohol now than she could remember. But, then she had reminded herself of the stature and the taste of the people she lived with, not to mention, she was a legal adult to drink just like she had reminded her father.
"You don't believe in love?" asked Payal as she perched herself in between Akash's legs. They all sat on the steps in the backyard… Anjali with Rishi, Payal with Akash, Khushi sat a bit far on the grass facing the mansion. "Love…" she let the word tumble off her lips.
"I suppose not. Maybe love doesn't exist only compatibility exists," she said. "I don't think Akash and I are merely compatible with each other, I think we are more than that," Payal spoke as Akash kissed her shoulder and encircled his arms around her.
Khushi didn't realize when or how the conversation had suddenly switched to love. She could clearly remember sitting alone in the backyard reading her book when everyone had appeared. Then, they had started talking about their childhood, then their parents and now love. Khushi spoke, "maybe, we simply like the person a lot, and we care about them a lot, and I suppose, being faithful, caring, loyal, and tender with each other sums up to the notion of love."
"But, you read about love, Khushi," Akash spoke and nodded her chin at the direction and she looked down to her lap. Her book lay motionless on her folded right leg. "Yes, but love like the kind Mr. Rochester has for Jane, or Mr. Darcy has for Elizabeth, or Romeo has for Juliet, or Paris and Helena, or Pyramus and Thisbe only exists in words, in pages, in fictional, made belief world. I don't know think it could exist in reality. I think we as humans are too messed up to have that kind of love nurture amongst ourselves," Khushi stated completely beholding everyone's attention. "Cynic," Akash said in an amused tone, and Khushi laughed slightly as she re-assessed her own speech. The irony was not lost on her.
"I suppose some of us have to be the cynics or the entire will topple over if everyone started being in so called love." She said in a matter of fact tone that had everyone, including herself in laughter. "I think love does eventually seep into everyone's lives… you just wait Khushi Gupta, I would have done so myself, but I am already taken, but someone will sweep you off your feet," Akash said while everyone groaned and spoke in unison, "not again!"
"Well, when someone whom I find compatible with me comes along, then I shall introduce you to him, then you can be the judge of it. But the world would have been toppled over on its head if I ever say I am in love," Khushi's voice laced with amusement.
"Can we skip this talk and discuss our plan of actually going out somewhere," Anjali suddenly appeared back along with Rishi. She was missing from here the whole time; Khushi chuckled but soon understood when she spotted her friend's latest crush.
"Uh, I didn't think everyone wanted to go out," Akash fixed his glasses. "Yes!" exclaimed Anjali.
"Okay, well uh… I don't know dinner perhaps?" Akash asked Payal and she just shrugged her shoulders, "doesn't matter."
"Let's all go clubbing… no elders are really home, we could easily go out while the kids can manage at home," Anjali clapped her hands and Khushi knew all too well that it was Anjali's plan from the beginning.
"Really, clubbing… uh, yeah I suppose we can go, I could use some drinks and burn off some stress on the dance floor," Akash said as he stood up and dusted his jeans along with Payal. "Khushi?"
"Huh," she looked up at everyone and stood up, clutching onto her precious book. "Yeah, I am cool with it… oh, but before we go, can I quickly check my email?" she asked Akash and he simply nodded, "my computer doesn't seem to pick up the Wi-Fi connection, but go to the library, there is a laptop there. Just use that."
She nodded at him and briskly walked into the house and towards the library on the second floor. When she entered the library, she immediately remembers the last time she had visited. She was rather flustered and furious at the devil for catching her off guard. She shook her head and skipped over to the Mac lying on the huge desk situated against the wall right in front of the door. She placed her book on the table, and fired up the laptop. It had no passwords but for safety measures, she signed into the guest account and opened her email.
"Nothing… no job interviews…" she mumbled. She then composed an email for her mother informing her of the great time she was having, and the grandeur of the house, as well as the new friends she had made. She re-checked her email and gave a satisfied smile as she hit the send button. She leaned back over on the leather chair with her arms back against her head and closed her eyes.
Arnav skipped along the corridor in a hurry, silently cursing at the poor connection of the Wi-Fi because he couldn't load the email onto his phone. After dealing with his assistant, he had opted to stay in the confines of his room and to come up with a way to apologize to Khushi. For now, he needed to check that email his assistant sent so that the financial team could make their decisions as well. The moment her opened the library door, he was flummoxed at the scene unfolding in front of him. Khushi perched on the chair, smiling in complete bliss, unaware of her surroundings. She rocked back and forth in a silent manner and he felt a Deja-Vu at the state they both were trapped in, yet again.
He cleared his throat which alerted Khushi and she quickly stood up with a head rush. She gripped onto the table as Arnav rushed forward to catch her. "I'm fine," she mumbled more to herself than to him. She gripped onto the desk until her knuckles turned white but then abruptly decided to leave as Arnav opened his mouth to speak. However, her foot got caught against one of the wheels of the chair and she lurched forward, taking Arnav along with her. His reflexes however, caught her by her waist as his back crashed against the side of book shelf. It steadied them. But, he gripped her waist tighter and laced his arm around it. This action pushed Khushi's face against his chest, and her hair engulfed Arnav's face. For a second, Arnav felt like the world was spinning in a sweet harmony as the scent of lilies dizzied his rational mind. The next moment, he felt Khushi squirming away from his hold and he hurriedly let her go. "Listen, I…"
"Khushi, there you are!" Anjali said when the door had suddenly pushed open. "I hope you have checked your email so get ready… Bro, we are all going clubbing so get ready in the next hour." Arnav opened his mouth but before he could say anything else, Khushi was dragged out of the room by his sister. Her remnants clearly lay forgotten on the table.
He needed to go out and have some proper drinks to numb these fanatical thoughts plaguing his mind. Maybe, he needed to get out of this stuffy atmosphere for the night and let loose for some time, he pondered. He couldn't take it anymore. He exited the library and went to take a long, hot shower.
~~oOo~~
8.49 PM, Gotts Park Mansion House, Leeds, England
Khushi stood in the main doorway while everyone filtered out of the door. She took a breath and walked out towards the cars in her black gladiator heels. "We have a situation," Anjali came out dressed in a bright blue V-neck dress and she continued, "I want to sit with Rishi and well Payal and Akash bro are taking the same car but with a driver, and well, you don't mind going with bro, do you? I mean, I could always make Rishi or Akash bro go with him, because he wants to drive, I know mental, in it!"
"What?" Khushi asked clearly baffled by the sudden ramblings of the girl in front of her. She tried again, "there is one drive that is driving the silver Mercedes but that leaves only four seats, and bro wants to drive his own black one but the driver is going to sit for the return trip… you don't mind going in that car do you?" Anjali's eyes were full of hope and fear because she did not want Khushi to feel left out. The situation dawned on Khushi and realized that she seemed like the fifth wheeler in their case. As much as she hated sharing any sort of air, or space with the devil, she despised being the tag along more. "It no bother, go on, I'll come in the other car."
Anjali squealed in delight and hugged Khushi, "I have already told him and he is waiting in the car." With that, Anjali hopped along towards her car. Arnav sat impatiently in the car with the driver still standing outside for the next person to get in. He rolled his eyes at the sudden endearing hug exchanged between the friends and he revved his engine against the tarmac. Shaking her head at his impatience and enjoying it as well, Khushi slowly walked towards the car. When the drive opened the door to the black death on wheels, she leaned in a bit and then slid into the seat. The driver quickly sat in the back as Arnav fixed his mirrors. As soon as she got in, she was engulfed in his smell once again. The slight fluttery feeling was back, and she was surprised at the impact his cologne could cause. It is just the smell of the cologne, nothing else, I am sure if you smelt it on someone else, you would feel the same, she assured herself.
Arnav noticed how she clutched onto the light black shawl that was wrapped around her shoulders. Her black dress went up till her mid thighs, and was strapless though it wrapped her body tightly, hugging her like second skin while her straightened hair cascaded down her shoulders. He admired her dressing sense that seemed to have caused a slight thrust in his blood. He completely matched her, dressed in a black dress shirt and black dress pants and black sleek designer shoes. His gaze landed on her again but he couldn't see her face because she expertly shielded it behind her hair. For a second, he felt the impulse to push her hair away from her face, but his hands tightened around the steering wheel.
Khushi felt his stare slither over her exposed skin, and recoiled further into her seat and clutched onto her shawl. She simply couldn't bear the pregnant silence that seemed to stretch over in the interiors of the car. She lifted her gaze from her lap and looked him straight in the eye. "Do you need some sort of an invitation to start driving?" she questioned him.
"No, not really, but when we crash and you die by hitting your head against the wind shielded, I'll surely remember to share your last sarcastic remark with the rest of the world at your funeral, Miss Khushi Gupta. But for now, would you do the kind honor of putting on your seat belt." He retorted back.
"You could merely state that rather than killing me off first, but then again, you will definitely be in jail so I understand that your image would be taking a brutal hit, and the so called Arnav Singh Raizada will be too ashamed to show his face to everyone."
Ahh, the war of words had started again.
She grumbled and turned to pull at her seat belt but it was caught in a lock and no matter how much she tried, the lock wouldn't budge. After seeing her struggle, Arnav reached over, placing his left hand over the seat while his right hand went around her to grab the seat belt. Khushi whipped her head in a snap at the sudden proximity of their faces, their breaths, their smells infused together. She literally held her breath as he hurriedly belted her petite frame. He did not know what caused him to do that. Frustration, yes that's it, frustration, he assured himself.
The silence stretched over once again and this time, no one dared to break it.
~~oOo~~
11.25 PM, Club Deep Blue, Leeds, England
Khushi downed her second shot and she felt the club thump matching her blood's thumping. The clear liquid left a burning trail down her throat and a bitter but welcomed taste in her mouth. She spun on her stool, and faced the crowded dance floor, and spotted her friend dancing with her supposed boyfriend along with the almost wedded couple. They looked happy, and she smiled clearly relishing the fact that she was at her freedom's mercy. Anjali waved over to Khushi to join them but she refuted clearly spent from her constant dancing for the past half an hour. Her feet were aching now.
Then, she felt a sickly breath against her shoulder and a clearly drunken man, with eyes blood shot red, smiling at her. She half-hearted smiled at him and tried to move away when he blocked her escape route, wedging her against the bar and himself. She had managed to get off the stool but now stood completely defenceless. "Dance with me, sweets." His breath reeked of alcohol and she felt bile rise up her throat. She moved her head away from him and said, "No thank you, just move away and let me go."
"Oh come on, don't be like that."
"Move now or else I will call the security to come and throw you out!" she yelled at him but her voice was drowned in the loud blaring noises of the club. She looked his shoulder and saw that her friends were somewhere lost in the crowd and she couldn't spot them any longer.
"Oh come on, one dance won't kill you," he gripped her wrist in an attempt to drag her to the dance floor but someone else pulled Khushi's wrist away from his hold, "I believe the lady said to let her go, and as a proper gentleman, you must comply to her wish or take the complementary black eye… you can choose, no need to rush," Arnav said in a loathsome, and dangerous tone as Khushi looked up at him. Before he could comment further, the man hurriedly apologized to Khushi and scurried off. Her tense form shuddered and she excused herself after mumbling a quick 'thank you'.
Arnav saw her exit the club while he was still holding onto her shawl. Not sure whether he should wait for her, he followed her out as well.
Khushi felt the night's chilly air cool her heated body. The club was too hot and she felt like her dinner remnants making their appearance back up. She put her hand against her dewy forehead and closed her eyes to have some sense back into her world. She was zapped about the encounter with the drunken man; well she was slightly jolted with her sudden saviour as well. The world was slowly toppling over without her realizing it. Without any further thought, she stepped onto the deserted road leaving behind the sounds, the smells of the expensive club.
Arnav pushed open the door and frantically searched around for Khushi. She had been perfectly fine, sitting at the bar, and he had been keeping a close eye on her throughout the night like he had promised his sister. He didn't mind though. In fact, he was getting closer to figuring the puzzle named Khushi. She had denied dancing with anyone throughout the entire night except Akash. Then, after the stupid incident, she foolishly chose to leave her seat and saunter out in the middle of the night. Then he spotted her and saw her close her eyes and walking carefree manner while spreading her arms out as a slight drizzle descended down from the sky. He was highly amused by her latest antic but that amusement turned into sheer horror when he saw a car, slowly approaching towards her way.
"Shit… Khu…" without finishing his sentence he ran towards the unwise girl walking in the middle of the road. Without any further ado, he spun her around and lifted her out of the car's way before it could hit her. Khushi's eyes widened in horror when she felt someone spin her but before she could say anything, Arnav had moved her out of the harm's way. He held her tightly against his rugged frame and slipped both of his arms against her waist with force and her feet left ground.
The next moment, he was perched against a car whilst Khushi's arms were now wrapped around his neck and her forehead rested against his own. Both tried to even out their breathing. He felt her shudder against him and he steadied them against the car. The loud blaring car horn went off but that didn't distract the pair as they stood locked in an almost embrace with eyes shut and their foreheads rested against each other's. Her smell filtered in his system and he again was at loss of words and the world started to spin again. His breathing calmed down, and he opened his eyes first, "Can you ever walk without endangering yourself, woman!" he growled and slightly shook her. This caused her to come out of her own reverie and her eyes widened. She felt a similar deja-vu from last night as she felt his breath fan her face and his hold tightened around her waist. Her body stiffened and he relaxed his grip and let her feet find solid ground; he didn't let go of her waist otherwise her legs wouldn't have been kind to hold her weight. She looked up; her eyes laced with confusion at the suddenness of her heartbeat when she observed his tousled hair, his two day old beard (he was always shaven), and his tired yet intense orbs. She found herself staring into his magnetically strong and penetrating eyes. Her eyes widened when she observed tiny specks of green embraced in his russet brown eyes. She never knew his eyes were so stunning with slivers of green.
Along with the slight drizzle, Arnav could feel Khushi studying his features as her eyes danced on his face. It was as if she was memorizing every single feature on his face. Finally, she her gaze landed into his eyes. Her almost midnight black eyes were full of emotions so foreign; he felt his breathing stop for a second. What kind of emotions was she hiding in there? He instinctively pulled her closer as lust slowly dilated his pupils.
For Khushi, his body was much too close to her liking where she could practically count the eye lashes on his eyes. His eyes weren't cold or menacing; they were earnest and Arnav felt his head fill with her smell. Khushi managed to leave his death rip, murmured a 'thank you' and slowly walked into the club. The horn was still blaring; Arnav ruffled his hand through his hair as he watched her walk away. He couldn't deny it anymore; he lusted after her, her smell coursed his blood at a non-rhythmic pace and lust engulfed his senses to the point where he felt his head exploding. Yes, she had her moments when she looked really amazing but she was infuriating and crazy. He felt like a hormonal teenager so he walked back towards the club. He stumbled while walking through the door. He realized how much he faltered throughout the entire day. And, the second thing that was gone was his centre.
PS- Whether you noticed, this chapter had hints of IPPKND scenes... the car belt one, the saving from being a flattened like a pizza by the car in the rain, Arnav wore black and Khushi wore green during their 'attempt' at dancing on Teri Meri, and lastly, the falls and stumbles😉
Arjun
62