The Mirage and Oasis...New FF: Chapter 13 updated - Page 44

You are late' Arnav said accusingly as Khushi rushed in with her two huge check in bags and one impossibly bulging hand baggage, all the time managing the straps of her oversized handbag.

'Sorry' she said apologetically, but not looking sorry at all.

'We are going for a week. Not a month,' he said caustically

'I know, But then girls need lots of stuff,' she smiled at him.

At the mention of 'girls' he suddenly realized she was looking stunning in Jeans and black T shirt and matching black ear drops.

'Khushi beta,' he heard a voice and whirled around.

'My mom' Khushi introduced.

'Hello Mam,' he said respectfully.

'Hello beta. Please take care of her. We have never let her go anywhere alone,' her mother sniffed, almost wiping a tear.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

What had he got himself into?

He felt like a cradle snatcher or something

'Khushi have you got the medicines for your low BP?' came another voice.

'My cousin Payal,' Khushi introduced.

Her whole freaking family was here? Arnav thought incredulously.

'Who else has come to see you off?' He asked her

'No one else. Dad is still angry with me, or he would have come,' she said wistfully.

A few minutes later Arnav and Khushi were sitting on the flight, after Khushi and her family bid each other a tearful farewell much to his amazement.

'Can I sit near the window?' she asked him meekly.

The moment he said yes she scrambled on to her seat like an excited kid.

'Is this your first time on flight?' he asked her

'Mmm no,' she said much to his relief. The relief was short lived. In the very next breath she said 'Mumma tells me I went on flight when I was 3 years old,' she said.

'Just my luck,' he muttered under his breath.

But she was amazingly composed

He could see that she was scared

But she never let it on

She did not even hold his hand

She just closed her eyes and kept muttering

But after that moment was over, she was back to her talkative self

'Do you travel often,' she asked

'Hmm' he replied

'Doesn't your family miss you?' she asked

'No' he said

'Do you like traveling?"

'No'

'Then why do you travel'

'Work'

'Do you travel for fun?'

'No'

'But you should. I would like to travel to Italy, France and London' she said

'Please do,'

'But I don't have the money. May be when I earn enough.'

'Are you asking for a raise? If so, No'

That shut her up for a while

But all the while he could feel her presence as her elbow brushed against his while moving her seat, when she leaned forward to do something, when she brushed her hair, when she looked out of the window, when she fidgeted-

He wished he could turn her off from his head by trying to sleep. He almost succeeded.

But it must have been around 20 minutes when he felt a soft feminine smell on his shoulders.

'Hell---what is-' his words froze when he saw it was Khushi fast asleep on his shoulders. Her hair smelt of a beautiful feminine shampoo that he had come to associate with her.

Without disturbing her he tried to move her. But she furrowed further into his shoulder with a small moan.

That is when he saw her face.

Baby skin that was clear of all blemish.

Long lashes that framed lovely eyes, that was now closed but which always shone brightly

A tip tilted nose that was neither too sharp nor too rounded off

And when he came to her lips, he almost looked away in an attempt to stop himself from kissing them-they were so inviting---full, luscious, cherry red---the most beautiful and kissable lips he had ever seen

Arnav found himself going hot

This could not be happening to him

He never gave in to such temptations----

Just at the moment the flight attendant announced the landing of the flight

Khushi woke up with a jolt and looked straight into Arnav's eyes embarrassed.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears moistening her lips and said nervously

'Sorry'.

But he did not reply

He did not want her to read his thoughts

His cold silence continued all the way through landing and till they boarded the cab to take them home.

Khushi could not be quiet any longer. After all she had made no mistake. She had just fallen asleep.

So, she started

'Are you angry?'

'No'

'Then why are you not talking?'

'Because I don't like it'

'How do you make friends then?'

'I don't make friends'

'That is weird'

'I am weird'

'But you can at least try and be friendly'

'I don't see the point'

Khushi kept quiet for 5 minutes and Arnav was relieved. Thank God! He had silenced her.

But if he thought he had silenced Khushi Kumari Gupta he was mistaken.

'Is where we are staying close to any malls?'

'No. It is far away in the suburbs'

'So I can't shop?'

'You did not come here to shop'

'But I wanted to do some shopping for my family in the evening'

'Sorry you have to forget it now'

'Ok does the room have a TV/ I know they do have but just in case'

'Why?'

'I want to watch my favourite serial'

At that he turned and glared at her which effectively shut her up till they reached the hotel.

Khushi looked at the hotel.

Nothing in her short sheltered life had prepared her for this kind of a hotel or ambience.

It was set on the foothills.

It was beautiful and scenic

The hotel itself was plush and luxurious.

She could see tiny cottages sprawled across the huge land surrounding the hotel.

She was taken in by the peace and tranquility when voices invaded the serene atmosphere-----

'What do you mean the hotel is fully booked and you have booked us in the cottage. I had booking for two rooms,' Arnav was screaming

'Sir. We have given you two rooms. But it is not within the hotel. It is in the cottage. That is more scenic,' the receptionist was placating Arnav

'But I never asked for a cottage,' he almost yelled.

'We know sir. At the last minute we had some foreign delegates and we had to move you'.' The receptionist could not finish the sentence.

'Which is the next nearest hotel here? I am going there,' he said

'Sir. This is holiday season. All hotels have the same problem. You have two rooms in the cottage sir. You and your friend will have your individual rooms and still be close ' the receptionist said.

Arnav began correcting her assumption about Khushi but kept silent. It was of no use. He turned to look at Khushi

Khushi looked at him wide eyed. Share a cottage with him. She looked terrified---------