Chapter 18
A Confession of Sorts
Khushi was lost in her thoughts, wondering whether to confess her feelings to Arnav when his harsh voice startled her.
Khushi, Khushi! Why are you looking so lost? Tum theek ho?(Are you okay?)
Khushi fluttered her eyelashes and looked at him in a daze!
"Kya Arnavji?"she said in a sluggish voice failing to comprehend the worried, angry glaze in his brown eyes.
"Dammit Khushi! What are you thinking? Are you feeling unwell?" The concern in Arnav's voice was now.unmistakable.
Khushi gaped at him and smiled thinking to herself what would she see in those eyes of his if she told him she loved him!
"What the! Why are you smiling like a naughty kid who has been caught with his hand in the candy bag ?" Arnav asked looked at her suspiciously.
"N...N...Nothing Arnavji," Khushi stammered, avoiding his gaze.
Arnav was quiet for a while. Then he asked her in a gentle voice, "Did you eat anything in the morning?"
"Yes, I had tea and a light sandwich."
"And the medicine?" Arnav said, raising an eyebrow.
Khushi looked at him in astonishment. "What medicine?" she said, scrunching her nose, trying to make sense of what he was talking about.
Arnav lost his temper!"You drive me up the wall, Khushi Kumari Gupta! Have you forgotten that you yourself had an accident yesterday and you injured yourself very badly? You were in terrible shock and I had to take you to the hospital!! Did you or did you not take the medicine the doctor gave you yesterday?" Arnav.'s voice rose in frustration.
Hey Devi Maiyya she had absolutely forgotten about taking the medicine in the morning, Khushi grimaced !
"I ha ...have the prescription with me, Ar ..Arnavji, but in the morning wo kya hua ..."Khushi stammered, taking the prescription out of her jhola, racking her brains for a suitable explanation to pacify him!
But Arnav barked at her,"Spare me your stupid excuses Miss Khushi Kumari Gupta!"
Khushi was almost thrown off her seat as he suddenly brought the car to a screeching halt. Khushi looked out of the window. They were in front of a chemist shop. Without a word, he snatched the prescription from her and bought her a packet the medicines. Then he hovered above her like a damocles' sword till she gulped down a pair of biscuits and the medicines as fast as she could! Satisfied, he nodded at her and finally drove her to college.
When the SUV stopped in front of the college, Khushi who had maintained a strict silence throughout turned to Arnav and muttered her thanks. She was about to jump out of the vehicle, when he suddenly pulled her back against his chest. Khushi gasped! An electric current ran through the entire length of her body as he hugged her from behind and bringing his lips close to her ears murmured huskily, "You will be okay, won't you, Khushi? And please don't forget your medicines, understand!"
As he spoke his lips lightly grazed her earlobe sending shivers down her spine. Khushi forgot to breathe for a moment before her heart went into overdrive! It took all her self -control not to turn into him and bury her face in his hard muscled chest, feeling the texture of his skin under her lips!
Moving away from his grasp reluctantly, she nodded silently and without looking back at him, bundled out of the car and ran into the college building at top speed and did not stop till she reached the safe haven of her classroom! However, much to her disconcertment she could not concentrate on the lesson as her thoughts kept straying to a hard chest!
After class, handing her a letter, her Principal informed that there had been a change in the schedule in the NSS project and she would have to join the team immediately, preferably day after tomorrow! The first thought that came to her mind was how would she live without seeing him for a month! What was she thinking, she chastised herself. How many college girls get the career opportunity she had got, to work on a project so close to her heart! And Gosak, the village she was going to was so near Lucknow and she would be able to meet her Babuji!
She was jostled out of her thoughts by her squealing friends who surrounded her! The prettiest among them said excitedly, "Yaar Khushi who is the handsome guy with killer looks who came to drop you? Humko bhi usse milao na(Please introduce us to him)!
Before Khuushi could react another classmate came running and panting and she clasped her hand to her heart and said dramatically, "The sexy prince has just come back in his white SUV to take me away to his castle!"
The girls shrieked excitedly,
"Really?"
"OMG!"
"If looks could kill!"
"He is so hot !"
"Hotwa!"
Khushi saw Arnav sauntering towards them, hands in his trouser pockets, a pair of dark shades on his handsome face, a smirk on his lips, and her heart skipped a beat! She saw her friends drooling over him and ripples of anger surged through her veins. She hissed, "Back away girls," and rushed forward to stop him!
She sprinted towards him."What are you doing here?" she whispered at him fiercely.
"I thought you would be happy to see me, Khushi. And I could drop you home." he said smirking at her..
"Arnavji go away. All the girls are staring at you!"
"Oh! I don't mind. Do you?" Arnav winked at her and nodded at the girls standing behind them. The giggles that erupted behind her incensed Khushi ! Making a disgusting face at him she whispered again,
"Anyways don't come looking for me here anymore, samjhe aap?! I am going away for a month..."
"What the! Where are you going? I won't let you go!" Arnav blurted out in shock and anger.
"But...I have to..." Khushi insisted.
"Khushi don't argue with me! Can't you understand why I have come to pick you up? I can't let you out of my sight! Its not safe for you. What if Shyam tries to hurt you? "
Khushi stared at him. He was restless, a nerve in his jaw twitched agitatedly, his brown eyes were anxious for her and her heart welled up! Before it burst she hastily withdrew her gaze from him.
As she settled in his car, a sense of calm and contentment filled her. She was definite he had feelings for her. She would tell him before she left for her assignment, she would tell him tomorrow...
She sighed and snuggled into the seat of the car and dozed off. She was still sleeping when he drew up in front of her apartment building.
Arnav stared at the sleeping beauty in his SUV and smiled. Then slanting forward, tucking the errant strand of hair behind her ear and blowing gently in her ears whispered, "Khushi, you are home! Wake up."
Khushi smiled in her sleep and mumbled, I love you, I do..."
What the! Arnav sat transfixed. Anger enveloped him like a demon. What was she saying? Love? What the! Whom did she love? It couldn't be Shyam. Then was it that fool NK?
Khushi shifted in her sleep and mumbled again,"I do...love...Arnavji !"
Arnav stilled! It took him a second to register what she had just said in her sleep! He raked his hand through his hair! He leaned back to his seat and placing his head on the headrest closed his eyes!!!!
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