ARHI FF: Master Class: Thread 2...part 32 thread 3 - Page 97

amazing update...enjoyed reading it very much

Indeed, let the fireworks begin. Show him who the boss is Khushi! Dont back down. ASR needs to understand he can't always dictate the terms of EVERY meeting ;)

dat ws awesome
brilliant update:):):D

Arrnnavvv !!!

Oh i just loved this update!

Chapter 31

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cksBtencdz4[/YOUTUBE]

Like clockwork, just at the needle hit 9am, the elevator chimed open revealing a stern Arnav Singh Raizada. Arnav steeled himself as his gaze collided with Khushi and he gave her his most determined look.

Well, let the fireworks begin, thought Khushi.

'Morning' he said in a controlled very business-like voice. He was dressed in a black single breasted Valentino suit teamed with a black waist coat and a crisp snowy white shirt and black tie. For some reason the simplicity and clarity of black and white appealed to him that morning as he was getting dressed, perhaps consolidating his viewpoints; you're either wrong or you are right, but you can't be both.

Devi Maiya why does he look more intimidating and fiercer than normal today, she wondered not quite sure how to respond.

'Good Morning' she said hesitantly as she stood up from her chair. Devi Maiya...Give me strength, she prayed.

They both eyed each other as if in a Mexican standoff, one waiting for the other to make the first move. Both equally stubborn; yet both equally nervous. It was clear, even this early in the relationship that the stakes were incredibly high.

Arnav walked towards her slowly. Khushi's heartbeat increased with every step he took in her direction. He stopped in front of her desk. 'You wanted to talk. Let's talk' he said not mincing his words at all as he looked directly into her eyes. Khushi struggled very hard not to gulp. It was extraordinarily difficult not to collapse in a heap as Arnav Singh Raizada was intimidating at the best of times, but today being an opponent against him completely terrified Khushi. Still, she took a deep breath and nodded as she followed him into his office.

Arnav placed his laptop bag on his desk and turned around to face her. 'Come with me' he instructed without volunteering any additional information.

Khushi stood her ground. 'Where are we going?' she asked, her chin jutting out ever so slightly in defiance. She really didn't want to go into any public space with him and have what needed to be a private conversation.

Arnav turned around to look at her and took a deep breath as he struggled to keep his temper in check. Arnav was not used to being questioned and when it did happen, though rarely, it really irritated him.

'Khushi...' his tone carried an unsaid warning and Khushi knew she was treading on thin ice so she decided to give in and follow him as they walked into the elevator. Arnav flashed an access card in front of the card reader and pressed a blank button on the panel and the elevator began moving towards an unspecified destination. Her heart began to pound earnestly now, the combined fear of the discussion and the unknown location began to unnerve her; all she wanted to do was grab his hand and hold tight but that was not an option.

Arnav watched Khushi from the corner of his eye as they rode the elevator, her fear evident in her eyes and body language. This was stupid. Why were they even fighting in the first place he wondered to himself.

The lift chimed and the doors slide open. Khushi looked at Arnav in hesitation. He held his hand out, silently gesturing for her to step out first. Khushi looked around, as she stepped into a wide windowless carpeted passage with a door at the end. They were on a floor that she had never been to, and she looked up at Arnav who stood beside her, the question evident - where were they??

'Penthouse' he said as he read her mind. They walked to the door where Arnav displayed the card to the card reader again and opened the door. Khushi gasped as she entered.

Floor to ceiling windows offered a breath taking view of the Delhi skyline from the open plan living area featuring two large brown leather sofas and a thickset antique coffee table which sat on a dark chocolate rug. A mural on one wall brought in geometric skyline shapes into the room, the beige and chocolate brown hues reflected calming tones and textured stone elements extending into the fully equipped kitchen making it feel like an extension of the living room. A massive flat screen TV covered the opposite wall while a high tech fully equipped workstation sat adjacent to it. A closed door concealed what Khushi guessed was the bedroom. She slowly walked in and then turned to Arnav.

'I had no idea that this floor existed' she said in amazement.

Arnav raised his eyebrows and shrugged. 'Only Aman and Security know about it and now you. It comes in handy when I have to work late and can't go home or if I need time out during the day,' he said quietly as he took his coat off and placed it on the couch and walked to the kitchen area.

'I need a coffee, did you want anything? There's some tea here' he offered as he pressed a button on the rather high tech automatic coffee machine which instantly began purring into action at his touch. 'I'll have a coffee please, with milk and one and a half spoons of sugar' Khushi said to Arnav, wondering how he would react to HER essentially asking HIM to make her coffee and not the other way around. She gulped as she watched his back as he walked to the fridge and pulled out a jug of milk and then set the coffee cups under the machine's dispenser.

'I have no problem making you a cup of coffee in case you're wondering,' he murmured his back still facing her. Khushi's eyes widened - how did he know what she was thinking?!

Arnav turned and leaned against the counter, folding his arms across his broad chest.

'I have no problem because you and I don't need to have a power play anymore. Neither of us is superior or inferior; we are...or at least I'd like us to be equals' he said quietly, his eyes boring into hers.

Khushi took a deep breath. There was no easy way to do this.

'If we are equals, then why do you get to keep making all the decisions about us? You decided you wanted me, you decided to chase me, you decided to kiss me, you decided to take me to the conference, you decided you wanted a... a relationship with me' She stopped for breath 'and... you decided that it was up to YOU to talk to MY parent about US Arnav,' she said in an even voice trying very hard to control her nervousness; it was taking every ounce of her strength to stand up to Arnav and it was terrifying.

What the F*?!!! Thought Arnav, his head whipped up as he turned to look at her, Khushi could see him struggling to keep calm, running his hand through his hair he tried to make sense of what she just said, but he couldn't. Finally looking at her, he knew his eyes showed how angry, just how infuriated he was at what she had just said because Khushi flinched under the gaze. His voice was stone cold and deadly cold.

'Khushi, I might have done all of things you've said, but correct me if I'm wrong - you have been consulted every step of the way. I don't recall forcing you into anything. I asked you if you wanted to be in this relationship and you said yes. As far as kissing you is concerned, if I recall correctly, YOU didn't hold back in kissing me either. So, please Khushi, explain clearly to me - what exactly is the problem here, because I frankly don't get it' he said snapping at her through gritted teeth watching as she visibly shrank a little, instantly making him feel like crap. Arnav knew full well what a formidable and intimidating opponent he was but there was no backing out now.

Khushi walked to Arnav and stood in front of him, her gaze so intense and sincere yet so angry that it took Arnav's breath away.

'Arnav yes, you have 'consulted' me, but you need to understand that you can't make all the decisions for us. I'm angry because, they are my parents. I should have been the one to make the decision of when and how to tell them, not you!!!' her voice rose in frustration, she was surprised by how angry his accusation had made her. Khushi looked at Arnav who was staring at her with a frozen look of surprise on his face and she realized that he had probably never seen her go ballistic before. Sure, he had seen her as a quiet, somewhat scared woman keeping everyone, including him, at a distance and avoiding any extreme emotion - but he had never seen her so enraged. She closed her eyes and silently counted to ten. When she opened them again, Arnav could see they barely contained the fury burning in them.

Khushi took a deep breath 'Arnav, you might think that I'm a mousy little quiet thing who shakes in your presence - you're not wrong. You do terrify me and still I'm learning how to talk to you. And now everything has changed and I'm trying to see you in a different light as my... my... partner and it still scares me but you need to understand I want... no...I NEED to be part of decision making, especially if it is going to affect you and me. Arnav I was eight years ago when my amma and babu-ji died in that car accident and I had to live in that orphanage for almost two years. I had to learn how to survive. Even at that age, when I had to obey the rules and accept decisions that other people were making for me, like being bounced between four difference orphanages before I was found by my family, I promised myself then that it wasn't always going to be the case and that the time would come when I would be making my own choices. Like now. And that I would find someone who would be my biggest champion when I need it' she drew breath 'Arnav can you understand where I'm coming from - I can't do this if I don't get a say...' she said, her voice trailing off.

Instantly his mind went back to the death of his own parents and the insecurity and uncertainty that their deaths brought. That and the determination to be the master of his own destiny. Arnav definitely understood. He looked into her big brown eyes and could see the fear, yet the strong determination in them. She was strong and capable of making her own decisions and while it had taken confrontation, he now understood and respected her even more for taking a stand. Arnav looked into her eyes and appreciated how difficult it would have been for her to have this conversation with him. Instantly he wanted to take her into his arms and reassure her somehow. It scared him how strong his emotions for her were; he had never felt this way about anyone before.

Arnav took a step towards her, he spoke softly 'Khushi, believe me when I tell you that I want to be... no... I am your biggest champion. I understand where you are coming from.' He paused as he looked down at the floor as if to assemble his thoughts and he took a big breath before continuing, 'I should have spoken to you first. Khushi, in my defence, it was a spur of the moment decision, like most things are with me' he said with a slight smile 'I thought that it was deceptive of me not to introduce myself as who I am to you. That was more important to me than being identified as your boss. That and I wanted to make sure your parents knew exactly what the status and my intentions are.' He drew breath, 'Khushi, to tell you the truth, until now I did think you were a quiet, mousy thing...But now...' he sighed 'Khushi... you are a very beautiful woman who is intelligent, brave, witty, and warm and... and...I refuse to lose you," Arnav said with brutal honesty.

I don't ever want to lose you Khushi, he admitted to himself.

Neither said anything for several seconds as they gazed at one another. Arnav studied Khushi's face intently and she knew what he was thinking. The deadlock had been broken. Khushi finally broke the silence. 'I don't want to be lost Arnav, I'm not leaving. I'm right where I NEED to be,' she whispered. There was already a bond between them, it was new and fragile, but it definitely was there and they both knew it.

Slowly Khushi walked space of the two steps separating them and cupped his face in her hands as she stood on the toes of her feet and placed her lips on his. It was a feather light kiss that spoke of sincerity and acceptance. She broke away and looked into his eyes. She could see those emotions and more in them. She leaned up and kissed him again, this time allowing Arnav to enforce whatever type of control he wanted. He responded instantly yet instinctively, coming alive under her touch, groaning in as his lips fused with hers, his eyes welded shut. His hand pulled off the elastic band holding her hair together as he sank his hands into her hair and he held her in place as he enforced and deepened their connection.

Arnav kissed Khushi with a hunger that shocked her. A need that made her senses bolt into over-drive. She felt his desperation in the kiss. Felt him moan against her lips. Khushi felt her guard going down, felt her body responding, she felt herself replying to the kiss. Matching his every move; meeting his every rhythm. He tilted her head as he deepened the kiss. Khushi thought she was going to die when he traced the little gap between her lips and then slid into her mouth, sucking on her tongue, while his hands remained buried in her long luscious hair. He whispered her name against her lips and Khushi fell in love with the sound of her name from his mouth. His hands slid down, pulling her even closer, spanning her curves and Khushi felt her body come alive with sensation she had never felt. He slid his lips down to where her neck met her shoulder and nibbled gently. It was her turn to moan his name ...'Arn'... he kissed her again; her words instantly swallowed by his lips again.

The sense of tension and arousal in the room was overwhelming and Arnav pulled back, her strained breathing did nothing to pacify a slow steady ache within him. An ache only this woman could satisfy. They both stared into each other's eyes, both felt the intensity. Arnav knew his brain was trying desperately to send him the warning signal to stop. She was inexperienced, but he knew better and he finally listened to his head despite deep protestations from his body. Arnav knew he wanted a lot more from Khushi than just sex. A lot more.

Arnav placed his nose against her forehead as she slid her head down to his chest.

Khushi tried desperately to calm her racing heart as her cheek pressed against his chest, and his arms enveloped her. He smelled amazing she thought as she breathed him in deep, letting his familiar scent wash over her and soothe her. Arnav Singh Raizada wasn't perfect, but he was certainly the most beautiful man she had ever seen and couldn't believe that he was hers. She smiled into his chest as she snuggled deeper into his hug and felt his hard body fit perfectly against all her soft curves.

'Khushi...' he murmured into her hair 'are we ok?' he asked gently.

Khushi pulled back and looked into his eyes, 'we're ok Arnav,' she whispered.

'So Khushi... now that we are officially seeing each other... can I please have your phone number?' he asked with a lopsided grin. Khushi laughed as she nodded.

His voice took on a serious tone, 'Khushi, you still have to tell me what your decision is in relation to my suggestion about you working with Aman instead of directly for me,' he asked quietly.

was eagerly waiting for this update...the convo between arnav n khushi was amazing...i think khushi would accept to work under aman...

lovely convo... Khushi burst out...

OMG such a heated conversation and glad that at last they were OK.. looking forward to the next part...