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Part 7: Onam day
It was finally Onam day, and there was commotion in the men's hostel- everyone wanted to dress up traditionally but many did not know how to wear a south Indian style lungi š
Shaji, a friend of NK from Kerala was helping NK in tying his lungi over his boxers...Arnav was still in their room, thinking how would he know if Khushi is back yet...
Meanwhile NK started dancing and giggling as soon as Shaji started wrapping the lungi around his waist...wait Shaji...it is ticklish, is it me or you are purposely tickling me today?
Shaji laughed and said, my dear NK- lungi is made of a soft cotton cloth and that too handwoven- it is supposed to feel delicate on your skin...understood?
with that statement he continued tying the garment and finished tucking the loose ends of NK's lungi into his waist making it half-length...NK looked down and saw his lungi was only covering him now till his knees, and he complained- Shaji, what's wrong with you, why did you tuck it into my waist? I like it to go till my ankles...let it be at its full length...
Shaji explained to him that with full length he may not be able to walk freely, as this was his first time wearing one. NK then asked him to show how to fold it up (into knee-length) when needed. Shaji showed to him and Arnav how a full length lungi should be folded up into half, and warned both men that they should be careful while doing it, otherwise they might expose more than half of their lower body in doing so. NK asked Shaji for damage control measures in case of a lungi acident, as Shaji explained NK nodded seriously like a student, and thanked Shaji for his help.
Shaji was about to leave as he has lot of other friends to help with wearing a lungi for today's event.
Arnav was watching this farce with a smirk on his lips...NK and his theatrics...he thought in his head...all said, NK is looking very handsome in his half-white lungi and voilet coloured shirt, Arnav thought...
Both NK and Arnav were part of the boys dance team performing in the evening's cultural festival.
Arnav initially objected for wearning a lungi the whole day, as he was afraid that it would not stay in it's place and would drop in the middle of the road making him embarrassed in front of everyone. He never wore one before! But for the dance performance though they were securing their lungi outfit with a waist belt.
NK was also worried about the same thing, but convinced himself that this was his chance to impress girls today...
Arnav got up from his recliner and asked a retreating Shaji to help him wear a lungi- Shaji was surprised at his change of mind and quickly helped Arnav to wear his attire and left the two men to help the others.
Arnav looked at himself in the long mirror of their room. He was a 6 feet man like his cousin NK and was well-built with lean muscles. His long legs and hands added a certain charm to his appearance. His skin colour was bordering into fairer shades of brown with his stuble making green shadow over his facial skin. making his high cheeks look very manly for his age.
His sharp and considerably big eyes (big for men's standards) had a deep chacolate brown shade in them with a tinge of gold, and his nose was sharp and pointed. His smooth facial skin and his pouty lower lip enhanced his seductive looks and his lean muscle tone made his shoulders broad, and his waist narrower and his hip bones accentuated under his golden coloured shirt. His back bottoms were pert and a little flat making his thighs look curvy and broad. He is a football champion in his school and college, and it showed in his well shaped calves. His feet were broad and large making him a shoe size 11.
With this half-white lungi, and a golden brown full hands shirt folded up onto his moderately hairy hands with a couple of top buttons opened showing his chest hair, Arnav looked like an angel of seduction...
NK wistled and said, Nanav mere bhai, I thought I was looking hot in this lungi and shirt...and here you are...looking like a model for South Indian garments...You are so sexy, mere bhai...now I don't have a chance to impress women next to you...we better go on our separate ways today, otherwise I won't have a single girl looking at me today...complained NK.
Arnav found NK's complaints funny, and said it is in your own interest to stay with me NK - when they will look at me, they will also look at you. And more over, if your lungi is falling apart, who will help you then..ha?
NK liked what Arnav suggested, and agreed to go along with him to the shopping complex in the Uni. campus. They thought that they should stock up some beer for tonight's celebrations- and they needed to put a word with the manager in advance so he could arrange some for tonight's private celebration in the Men's hostel.
As Arnav and NK reached the shopping complex, they saw that many girls were dressed up in the traditional attire and were there to buy their flowers to wear and to make rangoli for the evening festival. There were competitions conducted for women in flower carpet designing in the campus. Due to growing gender equality demands, for the first time, boys were also allowed to participate with them this year.
For past two years, Khushi and Kiran's rangoli came in the top two, and this year also they were expected to win a top prize with their rangoli.
As arnav walked upto the manager of the shopping complex with NK, he got a glimpse of Kiran, and he started immediately searching to catch a glimpse of Khushi...instead he heard the voice of Khushi calling someone aloud from one corner to come and help her to find some blue and pink water lillies in the flower counter.
Khushi called out for Payal, her cousin who lives with them for her higher education in Mumbai. She came to participate in the Onam festival as always. As she could not get a response back from Payal, Khushi started walking towards Payal and Kiran who were now in the other corner of the shop picking colours for rangoli.
As she crossed the managers' counter, Khushi felt a strange feeling engulf her senses when her eyes met with Arnav's. He was instantly lost in Khushi's eyes, and she was the one who recovered quick, and turned her head and started walking towards Payal and Kiran. But, in those few seconds, Khushi could not miss noticing how handsome Arnav looked in his South Indian attire. Khushi swallowed hard, and controlled her emotions which literally shook her few moments ago. She felt ashamed for few seconds, for ogling him so shamelessly, and for getting affected by his killer charms.
When Khushi joined Payal and Kiran, all she could think was that they should quickly leave that place. She did not know what she will do if she gets exposed to the sexy man who was few feet behind her near the counter.
She started quickly saying...Payal, Kiran, let's quickly pick the flowers for our rangoli and go back to our hostel. I don't want to waste anymore time now, we hardly have few hours left to complete the preparations for the evening.
But, before she finished she saw the same look in Payal's eyes...who now was facing the counter behind Khushi's back...what the f**k, thought Khushi...is Payal also charmed by Arnav like I was...how disgusting...
Somehow Khushi could not take it that Payal would find Arnav attractive! Khushi slowly turned her head so as to see who Payal was staring at...and to her relief, she found Arnav's equally charming mate NK standing there and looking in their direction, as Arnav was talking to the Manager, with his back towards them.
pheww...thought Khushi in her head...wait a sec...why do I feel so relieved...what if Payal was looking at Arnav...why should that make a difference to me? Khushi's heart started beating faster now, so much so that she could feel it in her left breast...this was a feeling that was strangely comforting but very unsettling at the same time for Khushi...
She quickly dragged Payal and Kiran (who was still lost in picking colours) with both her hands and rushed towards the flower counter, leaving a heart-broken NK in the back...
We must leave now, otherwise...Khushi stopped short of speaking her heart out...that's when Payal and Kiran stared at Khushi's bewildered shape, and asked her if everything was alright...
Khushi quickly covered up her feelings, and started picking flowers, while reassuring them that everything was fine with her.
Arnav, now finished his beer talk with the store manager, and was looking eagerly to check if Khushi would give him another chance to take a look at her beauty to fill his hungry heart!!
As soon as Khushi stepped in front of him some moments ago, his heart stopped! She was wearing a Kerala half-white sari with a golden border and was wearing a golden colour blouse which was tied in her back with three doris. Her sari and blouse were simple, and yet elegant and showing the beauty of simplicity. The sari showed each and every curve of her luscious body and yet never exposed any skin on her waist as sari's usually do.
Khushi's hair was loosely platted with some jasmines in her hair (arranged in the shape of half moon), her jewellery was made of small pearls- pearl jhumkas, and a delicate pearl necklace making her skin shine against the pearls...she had her eyes highlighted with kajal, and her lips lightly coated in transparent lip-gloss.
Her hands were filled with bangles (half-white and golden shades), which made tinkling noises when she walked in front of him...it was a dream come true for Arnav (literally).
Arnav was suddenly curious now...I saw her wearing anklets in my dream that night...is she wearing them now? I need to find out at any cost today...he made a resolution for himself.
He did not want to make Khushi conscious by hovering around her in the shop, and so he waited outside the entrance to check for the anklets...he was confident, when she walks past him, he would hear her anklets...
In his thoughts, he completely ignored, how awfully silent NK was...What's wrong NK? he asked, and still could not get him to speak...
This is serious stuff...Arnav thought in his head...something has happened with NK...hope it is not too serious...for now, I need my time to concentrate on Khushi and her anklets...
\\\\ š So guys and gals...any comments and suggestions for me? I would love to read your responses to the story so far...what you liked, and did not like..and your reasons and your questions?? Come on...show me your encouragement š\\\
Just one note to my friends reading this FF: all updates/parts of this ff are now posted in one thread (one below the other) with the title Arshi ff: that one night I will never forget!
This has to go like this till I finish posting 25 times, after that I will make a list of weblinks for your convenience in my FF.
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