ArHi SS: A STRANGE ENCOUNTER
PART 14
Sitting on the terrace of the farmhouse, Khushi looked at the moon while thinking a lot about the events happened in last few days. Her life changed so much in just few days, she wondered. The girl who always knew about her life's goals and dreams was nowhere to be seen. She was so confused about everything. Her gaze trailed downwards and spotted Arnav in the garden talking with someone on phone while instructing the workers about the decoration.
Arnav. Her lips curved in a smile as she whispered his name softly. She never thought that she is going to fall for a guy she hated at first sight. Yeah she did have feelings for him, she accepted. But what was so unique about him that attracted her; always lured her into thinking about him? It was not at all like he was the first guy she ever came across. Few guys proposed her earlier, behaved with her like a true gentleman then what was so attractive about him?
Was it the fact that he always managed to make her behave so different? All their interaction or arguments to be precise always evoked a strange excitement in her, making her wish too hard for her win.
Arnav's presence always affected her deeply. She never felt that excited when she topped her university exams, when she was made the CEO of Dreamerz by the boards of directors after the retirement of Mr. Sharma, when she heard the news of her jiji's wedding. And now when Arnav told her to stay away from him, she felt like she can't breathe properly. Like something precious, something very close to her heart is being snatched away from her. She never realized when she started finding comfort in Arnav's presence. Her arguments with Arnav brought the worst out of her but never had she felt this alive in her life in anyone's presence. Arnav's presence challenged her making her a different person. Arnav had become a necessity in her life, she realized with a sad smile watching Arnav frowning slightly. He started looking around as if sensing her gaze on him. Moments later, he looked up and their eyes met. Seeing the love in his eyes for her mixed with pain and hurt, she shook her head regretting for hurting him like she did.
As she saw Arnav going inside after few minutes, she too walked towards her room with a decision already made in her mind. She needs to confess her feelings to Arnav very soon.
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As loud hindi music reached his ears, he opened his sleepy eyes unwillingly, bringing his hand forward to shield his eyes from the harsh sunlight. Swearing under his breath, Arnav picked up a pillow and buried his face in it hoping the loud music to fade away. He didn't know when he slept last night after looking over the arrangements and thinking how he got in this mess. Yeah mess, that's what he called it. He always believed in the concept of love like his parents loved each other. But the one thing that always broke his heart whenever he thought about his parent's marriage was his mother's lack of trust on his father. If only she would have listened to his father's explanation before ending her life then he and Di would have never lost them.
And now history was repeating itself again. With Khushi bluntly refusing his proposal of a date by calling him a womanizer, he was left wondering why he and his father never managed to win the trust of the women in their life. His heart ached realizing that Khushi too didn't trust his feelings when he was so sure that his heart beats for her. Only for her.
Telling Khushi to stay away from him was the hardest thing he ever did but he had to do that not wanting his life to end up just like his father's. If only she would have reciprocated his feelings. Just for once.
But no Arnav Singh Raizada never needed any false assurance. He was strong enough to live without love in his life. Just like always.
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By the time Arnav woke up and descended downstairs, mehendi ceremony, which was slated to happen early morning was over and everyone was proceeding towards the dining table for breakfast. Arnav's face broke into a big smile as he saw Sneha running towards him, showing him her henna clad tiny hands enthusiastically. He bent down and picked her up in his arms, talking to her animatedly. Everyone looked at them in awe as Arnav sat down on a chair settling Sneha on his lap comfortably. He kept feeding Sneha alternatively as she kept on blabbering about things happened during the mehendi ceremony. Khushi kept on looking at Arnav but Arnav didn't look up at her even once.
"Haaye Chotte, you love kids so much. Any girl will feel very lucky to have you as her husband. Atleast she doesn't have to look after the kids." Anjali said staring at her brother in admiration and then looked at Khushi as if the comment was meant for her only. Khushi looked down blushing a bit while Arnav just rolled his eyes.
"Seriously Di why on the earth does your every conversation always goes in one direction? You are so obsessed with marriage and match making." Arnav replied with a devilish grin on his face. Shyam chuckled lightly after hearing Arnav's reply and immediately sobered up when Anjali looked at him in anger.
Smacking his arm, Anjali smirked as she spoke "Talking about match making, Chotte I am thinking about setting a wedding date for you."
Arnav chocked on his food as soon these words left from Anjali's mouth. Khushi too looked at Anjali with a stunned expression on her face.
"No way Di!!!! I am not going to meet any girl during Akash's wedding." Arnav announced and stood up abruptly. He ignored Anjali's attempts to say something to him. Tears pricked in Khushi's eyes as she saw Arnav looking at her with hurt visible in his eyes before leaving from there. Payal and Akash looked on feeling very bad for Arnav.
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"Damn this buttonā¦." Akash swore loudly while trying to button up his blue sherwani. Arnav chuckled taking in the scene playing in front of him making Akash glare at him.
"Dude this is not even a bit funny." Akash spoke still struggling with the buttons as Arnav checked his mails, dressed in a three-piece suit as usual.
"Thank god it's not my engagement." Arnav spoke, his eyes still glued to his phone.
"Haā¦.you bet. Di got a sherwani for you too and if I am not wrong she will be coming soon to make you wear that." Akash smiled finally managing to button his sherwani, looking happy about what he said. Arnav groaned inwardly hearing that.
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Dressed in a simple black sherwani, Arnav looked around grumpily feeling suffocated in it. He smiled when he saw Akash looking at Payal passionately while exchanging rings. He felt genuinely happy for Akash and Payal. They always looked so perfect together like they were always meant to be together.
His smile dropped as he sensed a movement to his right. Instinctively he took a step to his left as if trying to maintain a distance between him and the person to his right. It was already difficult enough for him to not look at her. She was such a vision in red.
So beautiful.
So Innocent.
So alluring.
He breathed in relief when Lavanya came and dragged him to the dance floor.
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Khushi's eyes softly trailed over Akash and Payal who were now dancing while whispering to each other looking very happy. Throughout the evening, she couldn't help herself as she imagined Arnav and her like that. Getting married. Totally in love with each other.
For once her thoughts related to Arnav didn't frighten her. Instead, she felt a warm feeling inside her heart as if loving her thoughts. Her train of thoughts halted as her gaze got stuck to Arnav who now was dancing with Lavanya. She tried a lot to talk to Arnav but Arnav was avoiding her like a plague. Whenever she took a step towards him, he took two steps back totally tuned to her every movement. Now she was getting very impatient.
In her impatience, she didn't realize that she was staring at Arnav and Lavanya continuously without even blinking her eyes for once.
"You look sad." A voice quite close to her ear, took her off guard making her jump back in fright. Keeping a hand on her chest to calm her shooting heartbeat, she looked up to see NK, Lavanya's boyfriend and her good friend staring at her curiously.
"NK you scared me yaar." Khushi spoke looking exasperated.
Holding his ears, NK gave her a sheepish smile "Sorry Khushi. I didn't realize that. But what's wrong with you? You look lost and didn't even talk to me properly."
Not replying to him, Khushi once again turned to look at Arnav and Lavanya with NK following her gaze. They kept standing there not saying anything.
"NK don't you feel jealous that Lavanya is dancing with Arnav so jovially?" Khushi spoke after few minutes still not looking at NK.
NK shook his head and smiled humbly "No I don't."
Khushi's head jerked towards him, her eyes wide in surprise "You don't? Why?"
"Because I trust her. I know that she loves me and me only." NK replied shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. Khushi turned back to look at Arnav and Lavanya, her eyes softening as she pondered over what NK said. Then she realized something she failed to understand earlier. She needs to trust Arnav with his feelings for her and if she wasn't wrong, she actually started doing it without realizing it fully.
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Khushi watched the big, rough hand in front of her in amazement not quite believing her eyes. Arnav was standing in front of her, brought his hand forward silently asking her for a dance. Her hand rose shaking a bit as her gaze locked with his. Her hand slipped into his quite effortlessly as her eyes trailed over his somber expression quite wondering what made him come to her?
He guided her quietly towards the dance floor as a romantic, slow paced song began. Her fingers intertwined with his as he rested his other hand on her bare waist, slipping it effortlessly under the pallu of her saree. She clutched his sherwani tightly as a shiver ran down her spine with his touch on her skin, almost burning it. As the starting note of the song began, Arnav drew her closer with her front colliding with his hard,muscular, broad chest.
Khushi rested her other hand on his shoulder as they started dancing, the lights dimming down a bit creating a halo over them. Khushi felt her breath caught in her throat as she craned her neck to look up at him, finding him looking down at her intently. Flecks of gold shimmered in his molten brown eyes with passion surprising her. For the first time since they have met, they moved together, dancing as a couple, not noticing others at all. Their hearts beating together in silent symphony. Khushi watched in wonder as Arnav tilted his head to left and whispered huskily "You wanted to say something?"
"I just wanted to ask that would you like to go out on a date with me?" Khushi asked after taking a deep breath, looking down.
She felt him still for a second but she didn't looked up. Soon she heard him clearing his throat and then he spoke "Khushi you don't have to do all this."
"I know. But I want to do this." Khushi looked up at him then watching his stunned gaze on her as if he still couldn't believe what she said. An uneasy silence fell between them as Khushi kept staring at him, trying to gauge various emotions running across his face. Shock, pain, hurt, disbelief and then curiosity. As the final notes of the song started playing, Arnav blinked his eyes once and uttered only one word still looking dazed "Why?"
"Because I like you. I liked you when we both fought like enemies, when even after all fights you behaved like a true gentlemen with me. I liked you when you forgave me when I rejected your proposal cruelly and still came to hear what I wanted to say to you. I like you a lot, Arnav. You were wrong that day. I do have feelings for you." A lone escaped from her eye as she uttered those words, cupping his cheeks. Arnav's hand rose to wipe the tear away when Khushi caught his hand in hers and kissed his palm softly.
She leaned in and kissed his cheeks passionately, her lips lingering over there for a moment longer than necessary. Her breath fanned his skin as she moved towards his ear, clutching his shoulders tightly for support as he stood still not believing all this was happening for real.
"Thank you for being you, Arnav." Khushi whispered as his hold on her waist tightened. She moved back as the song ended making him loose his hold on her. Still looking in his eyes, she moved back staring at him with love. She smiled sadly turning away from him, finally allowing tears to flow from her eyes. It was his decision now that may bring them together or may break them apart for forever.
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Khushi hummed a song softly while walking towards her room after Payal and Akash's wedding. She was truly happy for her sister. She knew Payal always deserved happiness being the selfless and humble person she had always been. But what truly made her happy was the fact that Arnav wasn't ignoring her like he did during Payal and Akash's engagement. Every moment she felt his heated gaze on her and whenever she looked up, she found him smiling brightly at her.
But the one thing that bothered her was Arnav didn't say anything after their dance. He didn't try to initiate a conversation throughout the wedding and other rituals. She was pulled out of her thoughts abruptly when she felt herself being pulled inside a dark room by someone. She was about to shout when someone took her lips into theirs shutting her effectively.
At first she froze not at all responding to the kiss and kept struggling when she felt it. She felt her heart beating in the same excitement she associated with Arnav's presence only. She closed her eyes recalling the kisses they shared. She smiled realizing its Arnav kissing her senselessly.
With her arms comfortably nestling around his neck, she pulled him closer finally responding to the kiss with equal fervor earning an approving grunt from Arnav. After kissing each other thirstily, they drew back resting their forehead against each other.
With his breath still ragged, Arnav spoke in a hoarse voice "Be ready for our date tomorrow, Khushi. I will pick you at 10 in the morning."
As her mouth dropped open in shock, he chuckled and pecked her lips again noisily. With his eyes still twinkling in excitement, he opened the door of the room and stared at her for long. With a rakish wink at her, he went away whistling happily.
Khushi watched him going when a sudden thought struck in her mind. Their first meet reminded her of their first kiss. Their first dance reminded her of her bold confession. She wondered what their first date is going to bring in their life?
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So sorry for being so late in updating this chapter...i got confused and nervous as well...i would have posted this chapter last week but i wasn't happy with what i wrote and re wrote it again still not fully satisfied
this update is almost thrice of my usual update in length so guys please do comment and hit the 'like' button
oh and one more thing this is the second last chapter of this SS...i am working on last chapter now and it'll b up in 3-4 days
thank you all for such a good response on my last update...i am glad to read comments from new readers and silent readers
talking about last update, do you guys think that ArHi will have a perfect date or a disastrous date? š
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