ArHi FF: Cocktail Thread2 Chptr 17-Pg12 02/03NEW!!

"She's a mess of gorgeous chaos, and you can see it in her eyes."

She was smiling like a fool to herself when she entered her room, the smile refusing to leave her lips. Her mother was staring after her in utter amazement as she couldn't believe the fact that her daughter had agreed to eat spinach, the one thing she completely loathed in the entire world.

It was over two weeks after they had first kissed, and the memory of it never failed to make her blush like a tomato. It was like an unexpected but a more than welcomed blow to her. It was her first kiss, and it was undoubtedly special. It had surpassed all the standards that she had set for her first kiss. It had transported her to another world, where there was only the two of them. She chuckled at clichd ridiculousness but couldn't help but find herself at the same place again. She wanted him all to herself and the subsequent days only made her fall in love more. It was like she was falling into something which had no end, but she was thoroughly enjoying the fall. The two weeks were a blur for both of them, but they never failed to sneak in a few moments for themselves. They would meet when he would disperse the rest of the interns. He would ask her to wait for him so that he could drop her home. They had never kissed like that afterwards, but she managed to make even the subtle good night kisses special, leaving him wanting for more. There was a lot of anticipation from both sides, which only increased the tension whenever they were physically close. But the thrill of what it would be like after they would take the final plunge, kept them from going all the way. It kept building up the passion and Arnav was happy to hold himself back if that made her happy. She was, after all, special and he had no intention of letting her go away from him. In fact, if he could get his way, he wouldn't even let her out of his sight. But he knew it was not possible. She had wanted him to ask her out on a date post that but he had totally refused to take the subtle hints she threw his way, until today. He was having a gala watching her pining for a date, mostly because she wasn't straightforward about it. If she wanted him to ask her out, he wanted her to take the initiative, like she normally did in their relationship. He couldn't help but smile widely whenever he thought about her and her antics, his focus on the antics she resorted to when they were alone.

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"Umm... Khushi, what are you doing on Friday?" He asked her carefully, not allowing his voice to betray any undercurrents.

"I was planning to have a two-day sleepover at Lavanya's." Khushi replied with the same tone, her heart picking up at the same time with anticipation.

On the other hand, ridiculously wild thoughts were whirling in Arnav's head when he heard her mention a sleepover. He wanted to reply- Will you have a sleepover with me? But luckily for both of them, he refrained, mentally slapping himself for thinking like that. He continued, trying to put himself together, as the sleepover thing refused to exit his mind. "There's a place I have been meaning to take you to. Would you like to come?" He paused to study the expression on her face. Her gaze was piercing, scrutinizing his facial features like a laser beam. She did not reply but continued to look at him thoughtfully. He decided to speak, not ready to be the recipient of her silence. "It's okay if you've already made plans. After all Lavanya would feel bad if you cancel on her like this at this..." He was stopped in between his rant.

"Arnav, are you asking me out on a date?" One of her eyebrows was hooked and she was smirking at him - like actually smirking at him. Her question had caught him off-guard for a moment, as he hadn't expected her to behave like this. But he was quick to retort.

"Khushi," he laid a lot of emphasis on her name as he called out to her in a slow and husky voice, his steps involuntarily taking him towards her, "Do you want me to ask you out on a date?"He put a special emphasis on 'you'. Nobody could mess around with him. It was Khushi's turn to be surprised.

"Wh... What?" Her voice was caught in her throat and she continued to silently look at his face. She noticed how the look on his face had conspired to distract her. His eyes were silently mocking her, proud at entangling her in her own game. She stood rooted to the spot as Arnav measured his steps towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. It was finally after this brief pause that she seemed to have found her voice again. "That depends, actually." She managed to speak.

"Oh really?" He tilted his head and grinned at her. "On what...?" The conversation had surely took an interesting turn.

"...on where you would take me." She stated simply.

"Fair enough." He knew Khushi wasn't like others. She didn't fancy being taken out to an extravagant restaurant. He would have to be creative about it. He was now standing only an inch apart from her and his heart ached to close this distance as well. And then, he did. Their breath started mingling as the familiar electricity came back. "If it's so, then Khushi Kumari Gupta, will you go out with me?" He asked her and without really waiting for her to respond, he snaked his arms around her and pulled her to himself, her soft form collided with his, extracting a gasp from her. He held her face by her chin, lifting it up so that he could look into her eyes, which seemed to be dilating and darkening by the second. He could see a whirlpool form in them as she placed her hands on his chest and mold her body into his. The lower parts of their bodies seemed to be conjoined. She leaned in, her forehead touched his and her hands went to his face, cupping his cheeks. She seemed to be under a magic spell. Her heart was the wizard in this case and she was completely enchanted. Her eyes darted to his lips and within a second, she closed her eyes. Her body shuddered with anticipation before taking the final plunge and claiming his lips in a dominating stroke.

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She shook her body a bit violently to get rid of the dizziness overtaking her as her mind repeatedly kept going back to him and that maddening and feverish kiss. She couldn't believe her luck that she had happened to meet Arnav, who didn't make her feel like a kid. In fact, he treated her in the opposite way. He treated her like a woman, and she could feel waves of pleasure wash through her as the thought entered her mind. Someone might call her a dirty-mind or even a pervert at that, but physical intimacy does a lot of things to you. Most importantly, it becomes an addiction- something that even drugs or alcohol can't give you. She felt herself transported to another dimension whenever she was kissed like that and long after they would have parted, she clung on to him wanting more. Get a grip Khushi Kumari Gupta! She mentally reprimanded herself. You talk like a sex addict! The funny thing is, you are still a virgin. Only god knows what would happen to me then. Her eyes came out of her eye sockets when she said the words mentally to herself. Please help me god. I need it desperately!

She heard her phone ringing and she was thankful for the interruption. She picked up. "Lavanya, we have a situation. You have to come over right now. It's an emergency." She paused as she heard Lavanya ask questions about the 'emergency'. "I've a date tomorrow."

***

"What is going on, Khushi?" Lavanya asked her suspiciously. "You have a date? But how? And who is the guy you've managed to keep under wraps? I knew something was going on but you're already in the dating phase? I just don't believe it!" The anger levels were constantly rising.

Khushi placed a hand on Lavanya's shoulder in a bid to placate her best friend. Honestly, even she didn't have any idea why she had hidden it from her, considering she had never done anything like this in the past. She hoped for Armaan to pop out from somewhere as he was good at managing Lavanya. "I am really sorry, La. But I didn't tell you because... I don't know why... Maybe I was just scared."

"Scared of what? You know I can never judge you, right? We always tell each other everything!"

"I know we do. Maybe it was just that. I am sorry."

"I will accept your apology. But only on one condition."

"What?"

"You have to tell me everything from the very beginning, in the minutest of details, get it?" Lavanya saw Khushi nod her head vigorously and the two friends huddled together as Khushi started recounting her time with Arnav, a shy smile plastered on to her face.

"You kissed? YOU KISSED? Oh my freaking god! You kissed!" Lavanya would have gone on repeating it had she not been shut up by a forceful hand on her mouth.

"You need to stop speaking! If you don't remember, we're still in my house with my mom just a room away! Stop shouting!" Khushi hissed.

Lavanya, however, was not listening to her. She was lost in Arnav-Khushi dreamland. While Khushi continued to glare at her, Lavanya jumped at her and hugged her fiercely. "I am so happy for you Khushi! You got kissed! You have found the love of your life! I am so happy today!" She broke away to look at her with sugar-coated fondness. "But I hope you don't mind me kissing you. Tell Arnav not to be jealous!" She went ahead and placed a rather wet kiss on Khushi's cheek while Khushi was dumbstruck as to what was happening to her. People need to stop kissing me!

"Lavanya, I appreciate all the enthusiasm, but right now I don't want you on my cheek. Please just..." But she cut in between.

"I know very well who you want on your cheek, Ms. Khushi." Lavanya succeeded. Khushi had reddened within a second and had effectively stopped speaking. "It's okay, stop blushing. Agar tera yahan yeh haal hai toh pata nahi Arnav ke saamne kya hota hoga." She smirked. "I know I need to pick out a dress for you, right?" Khushi managed to nod in response only to see Lavanya smirking away. She returned to normal after sometime and joined Lavanya in picking out a dress.

Ten minutes later, Khushi's entire wardrobe was on her bed and both of them were eyeing every piece of clothing she owned, with their hands placed on their hips. "I should wear his favourite colour, right?" Khushi asked.

"And what's that? Wait, let me guess. It's red, isn't it?"

Khushi was pleasantly surprised. "His favourite colour is black, I suppose, because he wears everything in shades of black."

"It's not that, stupid! I am talking about the colour he likes on you, and not on himself!" Khushi's mouth was wide agape as she realized what Lavanya meant. "Do you why I think it'll be red?"

"Because that is what I wore the night we danced together." She whispered more to herself and was again lost in his thoughts. Few moments later when she broke out of her reverie, she saw Lavanya gazing distantly out of the window. "What are you thinking about?"

"I was just wondering what your children would look like."

***

The evening had finally arrived and Khushi was a nervous wreck. It wasn't only her first date with Arnav, it was her first date ever. The thought was enough to send her hiding behind the curtains, because at the moment, the nervousness was overpowering the anticipation of an evening alone with him. The clock struck five and he would be there to pick her up at six. She was sitting in front of the mirror, completely confused about what to wear. She placed a hand on her racing heart to calm it down. She heard Lavanya enter.

"What are you still doing there? You have only an hour!" Lavanya freaked out.

"I am really nervous."

"Of course you are! In fact, if hadn't been then you would be abnormal. Now please get your act together and get ready." But Khushi didn't flinch. "For the last time, Khushi, you're sitting in my home and I order you to get moving!" And then, Khushi reluctantly made way for the washroom.

An hour later, when she came in front of her, Lavanya rubbed her eyes in surprise. "Is that really you?" She pinched herself only to receive a slap on her arm.

"Stop it, you! Are you sure I look okay?" She asked unsurely.

"Okay? You're going to get a hell lot of kisses today, miss! Mark my words!" Lavanya's teasing spree was endless. "Now stop blushing and let's go. You should not keep him waiting!"

Lavanya had decided to accompany Khushi to the point from Arnav was supposed to pick Khushi. Their car was parked outside the entry to a park and Khushi was desperately waiting for him and kept looking at her phone every now on and then. It finally vibrated in her hands and she picked up on the first ring.

"Someone seems excited?" His husky voice came out in a soothing tone. "Are you there yet?" She mumbled a feeble yes. "I'll be there in a minute. See you!" She hung up, with a contended smile of anticipation on her face and gleam in her eyes.

"Lavanya, he said he'll be here any minute now." There was restlessness in her voice.

"So?"

"So... you can... umm..."

"It's okay Khushi, you can ask me to leave. I understand you want your man away from any potential charms, I understand." She mocked her laughingly.

"It's not that I don't trust you or anything... I was just..." She trailed off.

"Save your energy for later. Who knows how much you might need?" She grinned at her.

"Whatever, Lavanya! Nikal ja ab!" Khushi got out of the car just in time to see Arnav pull up behind them. Lavanya saw him through the rear view mirror. And before driving away she said, "He is some hotness, Khushi! Bye!"

***

A surprise precap -

"You have a competitor." As she said that, she thought she saw him go still for a moment.

"I do not have a competitor." Her words were like alarms. They woke him up out of his slumber about his feelings for her. It wasn't until now that he had realized how strong his feelings were for her. Even she was joking; he couldn't help but feel threatened and all he wanted to right them was to scoop her up in his arms and take her away from the world. When did all this happen, Arnav? He asked himself. When did you fall so hopelessly in love? "You're joking, right?" The expression on his face was dead-serious.

"No, I'm not! I even got kissed yesterday." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, his grip on her arms tightened and he pulled her closer to himself. He did not realize his grip was hurting her.

"Who the hell was it? And how dare you, Khushi?" There was anguish in its purest form behind the veil of his eyes which was all too bare for her to see. He didn't care where they were standing; all he cared was for her to speak up.

"Relax Arnav. I was just kidding." She ran her hands up and down his arms in order to comfort him. "Lavanya kissed me on the cheek yesterday while I was reddening up talking about you. She was just teasing me! I swear there's no..." He didn't wait to hear the rest of the words and engulfed her into a rib crashing hug. His breath was heavy and the only possible solace for him was to feel Khushi close to him, the closest she could get. "And rest assured, I am not a lesbian!"