ARHI FF:Strings of Illusion:T6 |LINK 2 T7 - PG1 - Page 50

"Are you mad Payal? Don't go there!" zee said loudly as payal winked at her "Don't worry so much zee...see its perfectly safe" payal said as she gingerly placed her foot over the sodden path that lead deeper into the darker part of the forest.

It had been two days of continuos fun and frolic and lots of trekking with the entire senior batch of her college...payal had made a lot of new friends over the course of these two days, but the high-light of the trip had been her growing closeness to Akash.

She had been drawn to him; she knew that...but never in her life had she thought that she would start liking him so much...his warm, gentle nature had really won her over and she loved the fact that he paid so much attention to her..especially since some really skanky girls seemed to have taken an interest in him, as if he would ever go for them!

But what she thought was odd, was the fact that everyone seemed to know him...which was strange since he seemed like a guy who did not mix up much...but then she only knew him since few days...maybe he was a social person, unlike her...plus he did not seem to want to spend time with those loafers who had been trailing him since two days, decent guy that he was.

She looked back to find zee biting her nails as Payal rolled her eyes...today they had camped in the deeper part of the forest and after another night of loud singing and campfire everyone had gone back to sleep...Payal was sharing her tent with zee and another senior girl, but had woken up at 4:30 in the morning to go and explore the waterfall that was half a mile away...unfortunately, the road looked tricky but doable

"I don't know payal...I...I think you should come back" Zee said as payal walked further inside shaking her head "You are such a wuss Zee..." she said loudly, her voice echoing in the dense foliage...she looked back to see that she had walked quite a few paces ahead and could hardly see zee anymore...she shrugged her shoulders and continued ahead, lost in her own sweet world.

After a few minutes, as she came across a small stream that seemed to be a part of the waterfall...she jumped over the more sturdier looking rocks to cross to the other side...but as she stepped jerkily on the last rock,the moss covered rock gave away and she slipped, falling flat on her ankle in the cold water

She screamed as a sharp pain shot through her foot...her eyes burning with the tears as she tried to get up...but her twisted ankle made her hiss in more pain as she failed to do so, making her sit back in the ice cold water with a thump

As she contemplated what to do next, she heard someone shout her name...she looked up to find Akash running towards her making her smile through her tears as he quickly made his way to her, his long limbs helping him cover the distance in no time..."What the hell do you think you were doing! Thank God zee told me about your harebrained plan!" he said as he walked into the stream and stood glaring at her

"S..sorry...I would not have fallen if that damn rock was not unstable..." she said as he realized why she was sitting in an awkward position inside the stream "You fell? Shit!" he said as he crouched down next to her... "Are you hurt? Can you get up?" he asked with a concern laced voice which made payal's insides instantly warm up

She smiled a watery smile as she held her hands up "I hurt my ankle...and I don't think I can walk...can you help me up please?" she asked as he nodded and got up to help her...but what surprised her was that instead of giving her his hand he pulled her up in his arms and walked across the stream to make her sit on a higher rock

She felt a a sudden giggle form in her throat as she held on to his T-shirt lapel while he settled her on the rock "Whats so funny?" he asked her as she shook her head and smiled... "Noting...its just that I never expected for you to come here as my savior...I actually thought that zee would probably come herself" she said as Akash snorted at her but then turned his face serious again

"You should not have come here in the first place...now let me see you ankle" he said as he kneeled down in front of her...the little light from the rising sun let him examine her foot which seemed to be swollen and red "I don't think its broken...but you should not walk till we get it checked with the doctor...I'll ask the co-ordinator to see where we can find one on the way back today" he said as he got up once again pull her up in his arms but payal's grip on his wrist stopped him

"Sit with me for a bit...the sun is rising" she said as he sighed and sat on the rock next to her "Isn't it beautiful Akash?" payal asked him as she turned around to see him staring at her "Beautiful" he said in a husky voice that made her blush instantly "I was so worried payal...don't do this again" he said coming closer to her as she continued looking into his eyes

"Why? Why were you so worried?" she asked him softly as his shoulder brushed against hers...he tucked a few wayward strands on her face behind her ear as she closed her eyes...wanting...anticipating to feel more of him on her...her thoughts surprising her more than anything...she shyly opened her eyes but did not look up as he inched his face closer to hers

"Don't you know why?" he asked her as she slowly shook her head "Show me...why?" she asked in a voice so soft that she doubted if he heard them...but the next moment as he pulled her closer to his body while his lips caressed hers, she knew he did...she sighed as he held her face gently while his lips explored hers, softly...gently...her arms went to his shoulders on their own accord as she let him kiss her...her first kiss

A shiver ran up her spine as he traced his tongue over her lips urging her to give in and when she finally did, he abruptly pulled away...his eyes looking at her in wonder and something akin to guilt "I...I'm sorry...I shouldn't have" he started saying when payal placed her finger over his lips "I wanted it too...kiss me...again" she said boldly as he looked up into her innocent face...he once again held her face as she smiled at him gently

"There are some things you should know about me..." he said as she shook her head and held on tighter "Later Akash...i'll listen to anything you want to say...but for now, kiss me...hold me...please" she said as she pulled him closer while he crushed her petal soft lips again...their passion igniting the deep emotions hidden beneath it all...the kiss starting a new phase in their life...for now, this was enough.

...

The shrill ringing of his alarm clock woke him up from the deep slumber that he had seemed to have fallen in...he groggily opened his eyes and let them adjust to the bright light coming from the window...squinting his eyes, he wondered why he had kept the curtains open when the events of last night flashed before his eyes..."Khushi" he said as he turned towards her side of the bed to find it empty

He sat up on the bed and looked around to hear some sounds coming from the bathroom...He got up and stretched his arms before making his way to the bathroom...holding the knob and hoping against hope that she had kept it open he turned it slowly for it to give in and the door to open...a sudden gust of steam hit him as he stepped inside the bathroom and located her inside the shower cubicle

His eyes bore into her naked form as he gazed at her from beyond the frosted glass...he walked slowly towards her, his body instantly hardening as he opened the door to step inside the cubicle...he stood gazing at her with a smile as she hummed a soft melody oblivious to his presence

READ MATURE PART ON THE BLOG

Continued from the blog...

They helped each other bathe as their bodies readied for another round of unparalleled passion but the delay of time and need to be in the office made them quickly finish off their shower...as both got out smiling softly at each other, Khushi went to the other room to get ready while Arnav got ready in his...when Arnav was nearly done getting ready, he saw khushi barge into his room and look around

"Arnav, have you seen my phone?" she asked him as he looked around and shook his head "No..where did you use it last? You forgot to take to when we went to the accident site yesterday" he said as she remembered that she had left her phone in the penthouse "Shit! I totally forgot to check it when we got back yesterday...what if something has come up about my car? And mumma...she must have called me.." khushi said panicking as she ran down the stairs to get to the living room

She found her phone by the dining table where she had left it last night...quickly picking it up she saw two missed calls of her mother and one text from her asking her to call whenever she got free...she looked up to see arnav looking at her worriedly as she dialed her mother's number "Mumma's missed call...one from last night and one from now.." she said as her mother picked up the phone after a few rings

"Khushi! Where are you? Are you ok?" Her mother asked her as khushi looked up with a frown at arnav "I'm fine mumma...why do you ask?" she asked her mother, praying to God that her mother did not know about the car accident from yesterday "What kind of question is that Khushi? You did not text me back and neither did you call me...obviously I was worried..." she said as khushi breathed a sigh of relief

"Sorry mumma...my phone was on silent due to the video chat and I just checked it now...are you ok? You don't sound well" she said as she registered a note of worry in her mother's usually calm voice..."Yes...I...I'm ok...but...I need to talk to you...can you come over now? Or I will come over there" her mother said as khushi creased her brows together

"What's wrong mumma? Is everything ok?" khushi asked as a gripping worry took over her system "No...everything is not ok...I need to tell you something Khushi..before you know form anywhere else..." she said as her distressed voice make the hackles rise on khushi's back

"Stay at home mumma...i'm coming right away" she said as she bid a quick goodbye and ended the call...she walked towards arnav and held his hands "Arnav, something is not right...mumma sounded very worried...I have to go, can you handle..." she started saying when arnav interrupted her "I'm coming with you..we'll reschedule the meeting" he said as she shook her head

"No arnav...we can't keep doing that...you go for the meeting and workshop...i'll meet mumma and try and come back by lunch time...if its anything serious i'll let you know...ok" she said as he agreed reluctantly.. "Ok, but you are not going alone...take my driver and car and Aman will come along with you..." he said as she agreed quickly...she wasn't going to argue with him in this matter...especially when she herself was a bit worried

She made quick work of getting all the things ready as arnav spoke to his driver "Drive the car around for a round first before picking up Miss Gupta from the front of the building...and check the breaks before driving it" he said gruffly as she smiled behind his back, a sudden surge of emotions ran through her as she made her way to him and held him tightly from behind as he ended his call

"Hey...you ok?" he asked her as he turned around to hold her face...his eyes shining in concern and something deeper...something which khushi was thrilled to know that she wanted to explore "I am now" she said, repeating the same words she had said earlier...they smiled as they kissed each other good bye before deciding to meet back by lunch time

...

"I'm not getting you mumma...you are saying that Monica came here last night? But why?" Khushi asked as she paced her mothers room...she had come directly upstairs as soon as she reached home and had instructed laxamma to get them some tea looking at her mother's worried state as she rested on the huge chair by her window

When khushi had asked her mother what the matter was, her mother had simply stated that Monica had come to their home last night and that it scared her as to what would happen now, her statement putting Khushi in confusion as to why Monica was here in the first place and why was her mother reacting so much to it

"Khushi...you don't understand...I know that woman...she will...she will..." Garima said as Khushi went and kneeled in front of her...she placed her hand on her mothers knee and asked her again "Mumma...what has happened...why are you so scared? What did Monica say? Did she threaten you? Cause if she did...God save her from me" khushi said vehemently to which Garima placed her hand on her daughters and looked at her in the eye

"She did nothing of the sort...but...but she saw me..." Garima said as she wondered how Khushi would react to the news...something which she never in a million years imagined she would be telling her daughter in this way... "What do you mean mumma...you are not making any sense...what did she see?" Khushi asked her bewildered as Garima's eyes turned moist...more from the emotions that were locked away for a man and from the eventuality of whether or not her daughter would accept them

"Khushi...she saw me and Shashi together...in the greenhouse...I wish this was not how you would have come to know about us...but, I have to tell you this because I know Monica...she simply looked at us and gave me a mocking smile before leaving the house...it took me a while to follow her, but she was already gone...a lot is at stake here Khushi...I..." Garima said as tears spilled from her eyes which made their way down her cheeks while Khushi went still at the news her mother had just told her

"Mumma...are you saying that Mr Dinkaran and you?" Khushi asked incredulously as her eyes widened when the gravity of the situation hit her like a ton of bricks...she hardly registered her mothers soft nod as all that kept whirling around in her head was the fact that her mother was dating Shashi...Garima was dating Shashi.