ArHi SS: Never Say Goodbye Thread 1 - Page 13

Somewhere in those eight months Arnav had forgotten he had befriended Khushi to chase Lavanya. Lavanya, with all her allure, faded in the background for Arnav. He found time spent with Khushi more fulfilling. He had practically given up dating to hang around with Khushi. He did not care for his 'cool' image any longer, to be with his friend.

The entire college watched in amazement as the suave ASR accompanied the 'behenji' Khushi to the caf, to the library, to shopping and always hovered around her in the class.

They failed to see what he saw in her, even as a friend. They had nothing in common except their passion for design. They were as different as chalk and cheese, yet as close as the pea and the pod.

The girls watched in envy as the 'heartthrob' ASR laughed and played and hung out with Khushi. What was it in her that made him so different with her? Their jealous mind decided, it must be the lack of attraction to her. When there is no attraction , it must be easier to be friends, which ASR could not be with them, they concluded. It made their bruised ego feel better to think ASR did not prefer them because of their feminine charms which could attract him.

A part of this logic was true. ASR found his relationship with Khushi free of the usual undercurrents that run through a man-woman friendship. He hardly viewed Khushi as a woman. She was just ----Khushi-sometimes a bumchum, sometimes his mother figure, sometimes his partner in crime and sometimes a bundle of mischief and all the time his best friend.

He had found this uncomplicated and loving relationship, an exhilarating feeling. He could find other woman who could satisfy his other manly fantasies. With Khushi he had never found the need.

Until that day in the design lab, when the equation changed completely----

There was an ongoing, inter-class, ethnic bridal wear competition. Students were allowed to choose their partners and come up with a design. Eliminations would first happen within each section and the best from each class would then compete against each other in a fashion show, where the competing participants had to model their clothes.

Arnav, who had shied away from partnering with Khushi once, had literally bull dozed her into competing with him.

'But why?' Khushi had asked, still miffed with his rejection a year back.

'Because I need a skinny hanger to hang the clothes I design,' he had teased and she had thrown her books at him, which he had ducked.

'Ok. Let me try again. May be because with you as my partner, I will focus on the competition and not on anything hanky panky,' he had joked. Khushi's face fell at the joke, a fact he missed. He did notice her lack of response.

'Ok Gupta, I will tell the truth. You are the best in ethnic wear and with you, I have 100% chances of winning,' he confessed. Khushi had beamed a huge bright smile at this and he remembered feeling dizzy at its impact.

Then began the mad shopping for fabric, accessories, threads, beads and all the things needed to design the outfit.

They then worked many evenings on the design, rejecting many on the way.

Then began the process of stitching the garment, where Arnav had nothing to contribute, but watched Khushi as she slogged over the sewing machine.

'I hate it that I am slogging and you are lazing,' she had complained.

'Once it is done, I will slog and you can rest,' he had consoled.

'And how is that?' she had asked.

'Once we win the prize I will go out and party hard and you can sleep at home,' he had grinned wickedly.

She had dumped all the fabric on his head and sulked for a couple of hours, till he had to bribe her with chocolates and ice creams to make her work.

After 2 chocolate bars and 3 ice creams she had finally begun sewing again. Gosh! The girl was a glutton! And she did not even look it!

They had beaten all their competitors in the class. Their design was a beautiful combination of color, design and fabric that was stitched to perfection. Khushi and Arnav had celebrated the victory with another round of chocolates and ice creams and a beer for Arnav.

It was a couple of days before the finals. It was a Saturday and the entire college was on a high, because they were going for a picnic.

Khushi too had been looking forward to it. It would be a welcome change from the hard work she had been putting in for the competition. But early in the morning Arnav threw a damp squib with a phone call:

'Khushi, we also have to model the clothes during the ramp you know. That is one of the conditions. How are you going to do it? You have no practice. I have some practice due to my Dad's company. But I am really worried about you. You have to carry off the dresses well and walk in high heels too. How will you manage it without practice?' he had said.

Khushi had no choice but to agree to stay back and practice modeling with him. Since he could not come to her dorm and visa versa, they had met at the design lab.

Khushi was nervous about the whole thing.

Not only had she never modeled, she had never worn such clothes. The choli did not have a back and only had a lot of beaded strings to tie it together.

Moreover, it ended way above her midriff and exposed a fair amount of her chest, through a sheath of chiffon. Why the hell hadn't she remembered she had to model it while designing it? Even if she covered herself with a veil in the ramp, how was she going to model before Arnav, who would have to check her fittings and other details?

Nervously she stood, as Arnav got the dress out.

He held them out to her and said,

'Go change. And yeah take the accessories with you. And also do some make up. I want to see the full trial run now so that we are prepared,' he had commanded.

As she continued to look down and fidget with her watch, he had been surprised.

'What happened Khushi,' he had quizzed, at which she turned a deep shade of red. And then it dawned on him. She was blushing. He was highly amused. Khushi Kumari Gupta was blushing to model the bridal outfit in front of him.

'OMG Khushi. I do believe you are blushing to model those clothes for me! ME! Of all the people! Khushi let me assure you, I won't ravish you, or look at you in the 'umm' way,' he winked. 'For me you are just another guy in the garb of a girl,' he had declared with a boisterous laugh, again failing to notice the wince of pain on her face.

Famous last words, Arnav thought now. Considering he had to practically eat his words after that day and had to try hard to stop himself from ravishing her each time he saw her---

She had quietly taken the dress and walked away.

It was a good hour before she emerged. Arnav had been bored to death and almost dozed off. At first he had thought he was dreaming when he saw the vision in front of him.

There stood a woman in a beautiful wine red lehanga choli.

As he looked into her face he saw a pair of kohl darkened eyes first, the most beautiful hazel eyes he had ever seen.

Her cheeks wore a natural reddish tint that had not come from any blusher.

As his eyes travelled down to her lips, he felt his pulses quicken. He saw the most luscious pair of eminently kissable, bow shaped lips, darkened in red lipstick.

This was followed by a long white swan like neck, encased in a red and gold necklace.

Dazed his gaze travelled down from the neck and rested on her bosom. Through the red sheath of chiffon he caught a tantalizing cleavage.

Arnav gulped and forgot to breathe for a while as his gaze travelled even further down.

Again he was left spell bound. He saw the most beautiful and slim creamy waist he had ever had the fortune to behold, encircled in a gold waist chain

He raised his eyes to take in her entire form and his heart raced at the sight of the beautiful woman in front of him. Hour glass figure, hair cascading down her shoulders, a mixture of innocence and allure shining from her eyes----

With every step she took and came closer to him, he felt he was seeing an apparition of the most gorgeous model in the world, in flesh and blood. As she walked, the faint tinkle of the anklets aroused his senses further.

It was only when she nervously fidgeted with her bangles, he realized he was seeing Khushi. The familiar gesture, brought him back to his senses.

But, for the life of him, he could not find his voice.

Finally it was Khushi who broke the spell, asking him nervously, 'Am I looking all right?'

Was he dreaming or did her voice suddenly sound sultry to his ears. He was going crazy, he decided. This was Khushi-Khushi Kumari Gupta, his friend, the girl he called hanger and the college called 'behanji', for God's sake. Only, she looked nowhere like a behanji or a hanger.

But his pulses refused to listen. He had never been this badly bowled over by a woman. Heck! Whom was he kidding? He had never been bowled over by a woman, ever. He was practically gaping with his mouth wide open. What was wrong with him?

'Er---ummm---- you look fine,' he managed.

'Shall I walk now? A normal walk will do right?' she asked.

'Ummm'yes. But sway your hips like a model does,' he said.

She took up her position and swayed down towards him and then she turned her back and started walking back.

Arnav wasn't prepared for another sensual onslaught. As she turned, he caught glimpses of her bare back.

He began sweating in earnest, his senses in red alert, his skin on fire. He needed to cool himself. But did not know how.

'Was the walk fine?' she asked nervously half turning towards him?

'Umm yeah. Do it a couple of times more. But put on the heels. You need practice with heels as you are not used to it' he instructed, clearing the cobwebs in his head.

She nodded and picked out her sandals and bent down to wear them. This time he got a better glimpse of her cleavage. This is so wrong, he told himself. But it felt so very right.

When she put on her sandals, she practiced again, tottering on the way, balancing herself delicately on the heels.

Arnav watched in fascination at the child woman in front of him. Why hadn't he noticed her beauty before? Why hadn't he been aware of the hour glass figure? Behind the braided, salwar kameez clad girl, was a beautiful woman, whom he had never noticed.

Was it her innocence? Or was it her lack of awareness about herself? Or was it the novelty of never having seen her like this? Arnav had no clue. At this moment, he could not reason. But he felt a new bridegroom beholding his bride.

And then it happened. Khushi lost her balance, and started falling. He lunged forward to stop her. But the next thing he knew, he was lying on top of her, his face pressed against her, bosom, their legs entangled, his body pressing against her.

Heat shot through his body as he felt every part of it come alive. As he gazed into her innocent eyes, he was lost forever. No force on earth could have prevented him doing what he did next, as he bent forward to touch his lips to hers---