ARHI FF:Strings Of Illusion-T7| CHP 44 - PG 129|LINK to THREAD 8-Pg 1* - Page 20

Monica turned away from the window as the door opened...she smiled and went to the bar to fix a drink for herself and her visitor "Scotch on the rocks?" she asked the man as he shrugged out of his suit coat and flung it over the large leather couch...he loosened his tie and walked towards her as she held out the glass for him

"I think I need something harder than this" he said as he knocked the glass from her hand making it bounce off the lush carpet before roughly pulling her to him...he bit her lips as she gasped at the sudden attack but relaxed into him right away as if she was used to it...she let him bite and squeeze her as he took out all his frustrations...she whimpered as he tore away her clothes before pushed her onto the couch as he started divesting himself off the rest of his clothes

As she lay down staring at him, partly in fear and partly with desire, he eyed her angrily as his reddened eyes bore into hers, but before he could continue with his ruthlessness, his phone rang making him look at it in frustration before checking the caller...he immediately picked it up as spoke gruffly into it "Speak!" before settling himself into the large armchair

He nodded and grunted a couple of times as Monica got up and went to sit by him on the arm rest...she draped herself over him as he continued to listen to the man on the other side when suddenly he jerked up from the chair, making her nearly topple down "What.." she said as he laid his angry eyes on her before saying a quick few words to the person on the other end

"You are being trailed...in fact since a couple of days now" he said without any preamble to which monica's eyes widened "What? But you said you took care of it...and that now, they were only keeping a watch..." she said as she got up and tried to wear her tattered clothes "I said I will take care that they don't get anyone on you...I did not know that that A*****e cop had kept a team who has been following you since the past two days!" he said as he ran a hand though his hair

"Thank God we haven't met since that day...and today too we both have reasons to come to this hotel...you are meeting your friends for your card party while I am having a potential client meet...but this...this cannot continue now...we cannot meet anymore..." he said as Monica pouted "Don't say that darling...we are in this together isn't it! And you said it yourself...no one can point a finger at us for Arun's murder since we didn't do it!" she said as he chuckled at her

"Oh Im not worried about Arun Mehra's murder you fool!...and you know that! Its that princess Gupta that i'm worried about...I thought playing with her vulnerabilities will weaken her...but nothing is working out...plus that Raizada seems to be stuck to her like glue! And now with that blasted cop being involved...I think we should lay low for a bit...kind of strike when the heat is off...it will be very unexpected" he said as his face finally relaxed

"Hmm...you are right...let them enjoy some good time...after all there is a wedding in the family..." she said as the man nodded and called someone "Bury the plan for now...i'll let you know the next step in a few days...for now, lay low" he said before cutting the call and looking at Monica again...his eyes darkened as she divested herself of the shreds she was covering herself with before walking boldly towards him "Guess we gotta make up for the next few days" she said as he twisted his mouth cynically, waiting for the right time to strike...waiting.

...

"Come on Khushi...you promised me!" Arnav said as his face twisted in annoyance...ever since yesterday when they had confessed their love for each other, Khushi had more or less disappeared...true she had a lot of work at home due to the upcoming wedding, but he was really hoping to spend some time with her after what had occurred between them...they had decided to take things as they come, starting with letting their families know about them

"Arnav! Please try and understand...I know I promised i'll come over for the weekend...but since nani is still not back and mom is staying over at maasi's, there is tons of work left for me to do here...I have to personally go over every invitation and the gifts that are going along with it to the guests...you don't know how much tamasha some people do if their name's are spelled incorrectly" she said as arnav sighed

"Fine...I had some plans for us but guess I'll cancel it...you go and do whatever you think is soo damn important!" he said as Khushi tried to pacify him "Arnav...please...i'm sorry baby" she said sweetly to which he smiled and leaned back against the main door of his house as he continued to talk to her, much to the amusement of the guard who strictly kept trying to look alert while his ears seemed to be positioned to what was being said

"Its ok Khushi...I understand, if you need any help, let me know ok...i'll be at the penthouse all weekend since i'm working tomorrow as well" he said as she said a soft "Hmm...don't overwork yourself Arnav...I'll try and come to see you tomorrow ok" she said as his lips curved slightly more at the prospect of finally seeing her after more than 36 hours!

He said a quick good night as she blew him kisses making him chuckle...he walked into the foyer to find his bua waiting for him with an overtly sweet smile on her face "Aa gaye Arnav beta [You have come Arnav?]" she said as Arnav raised his eyebrows...he had come home to specifically tell his family about Khushi but was a bit worried after seeing his bua's welcome

"Hi...paddu bua..." he said warily as she came and hooked her hand around his arms before leading him towards the living area "Arre...why are do you look so nervous? I guess Papa told you about that darling girl...the one who we want you to marry" she said with a sweet smile as Arnav loosened his arms from her grip "Bua...about that...I can't marry that girl" he said as his bua looked on puzzled

"What? But why? You won't marry her or you won't marry any girl?" she asked him as he shook his head "No...I won't marry the girl you are talking about...I...where is dadaji?" he asked her as his grandfathers voice came from the large staircase landing "I am here beta...and what is this non-sense of you not marrying? How can you so blatantly say no!" he said with his eyes narrowed angrily as Arnav looked at him

"Dadaji...please understand...I...I like someone else...we have not spoken of marriage but if I ever do get married, it will be her only..." he said as his grandfather looked at his bua before shaking his head "Oh well...I suppose I can't force you for anything...guess we won't call the Gupta's then" he said remorsefully before adding another sentence "Who is this girl that you like then?" Yudhisthir raizada asked as Arnav took a few seconds to understand what his grandfather had just said

"Wait...did you say Gupta's?" Arnav asked him as he nodded his head sadly "Yes...I hoped Khushi would be my bahu..." he started saying when Arnav interrupted him "What? How...you were talking about some other girl yesterday..." he said as his bua walked up to him and turned him around "Haan...toh? Now we want khushi as your wife...but you obviously don't! So let it go...you tell us who this girl is that you like" she said perplexing arnav more

"But bua...its...the girl i'm talking about..." Arnav said as his grandfather came and patted him hard on his back before completing his sentence "is Khushi!" he said as Arnav once again looked on confused between the two people who seemed to be giving him smug looks "How...what is going on here!" he said as paddu bua started laughing uncontrollably

"We got you bacchu! Gosh...I would have burst a vein now if you'd still not confessed to us about you and Khushi!" she said to Arnav who still stood bewildered "You knew?" he asked both of them as they both nodded before bursting back into peals of laughter "Off course we knew! At least I knew...or you can say came across the truth and figured it out...that day at the Gupta Mansion?...during the engagement party?" she said as Arnav looked at his grandfather for his reaction

"What are you looking at me for? She told me this only two days ago...and I could not wait to play thins game on you...I know you Arnav, and I also know a bit about Khushi...both of you are too stubborn for your own good...I guess you both needed a push from our side...and here you are...ready to spill it all!" he said as he sweeped a hand in front of Arnav making him nod and smile

"Before you go into a frenzy about how I knew...let me tell you that I saw you that day when you came for the party...I saw you looking at Khushi before running behind her...then you both came down half an hour later...looking all..." she said as Arnav widened his eyes at her gesturing to his grandfather as his bua shut up... "So, yeah...I observed you for a few days and also confirmed with Akash that you looked lost and were smiling too much...so, it was pretty easy to figure it all out!" she said as arnav shook his head and looked at his grandfather

"Sorry dadaji...I wanted to tell you earlier...but with Khushi's father's murder investigation and all...she wanted to keep us under wraps..." he said as his bua whispered in his ears "Literally!" she said as arnav suddenly felt himself color up...seriously! "Its ok Arnav...I knew you both had your reasons...i'm just glad, that this time you chose the right person" he said as Arnav hugged his grandfather who held him tight

"And don't worry...we won't pester you for marriage and all that...take you time! You are both mature and i'm sure have an understanding about your relationship...but I would like to say that Khushi is very dear to me...and I will not tolerate anything against her...you included...so don't you dare hurt her! And please don't delay bringing her in his house for too long..i'm dying to see my grandchildren.." he started saying as Paddu bua intervened

"Haan papa...now let the poor boy go...i'm sure he has a lot of other 'important' things to do!" she giggled as she led her father away...Arnav smiled contentedly as he saw them bicker about his wedding and dating...now there was only Akash to tell...speaking of which, where the hell was he now-a-days...was it true what Khushi had said? Was he serious about someone?

...

"God Akash...what's with the reaction?" Arnav asked his brother on the phone as his hyper excited voice made him cringe "Seriously bhai! You are asking me that! I mean...I just came to know that you are dating The Khushi Hot Gupta and you expect me to act all normal...!" he shouted as Arnav held the phone away from his ears

"Akash...akash...listen, how about we talk about this tomorrow huh? You can come over to the penthouse...Plus I need to talk to you about something else too" Arnav said as he stepped into the lift at R&S, partly glad that his signal was going for a toss...he really could not take any more of Akash's hysterics...Drama queen!

"Bhai...h...h...ok...c...can't...hear...hel..." Arnav heard as his voice cut off effectively making him end his call...he quickly typed up a message informing him that they'll catch up tomorrow before sliding his phone back into his suit pocket...he got out of the elevator and opened the door to his apartment as he switched on the lights in the living room

He looked around to find the place eerily silent, knowing that the help must have left a while ago after the routine cleaning and stocking...he checked his watch which read 11:30pm before he swiftly made his way up to his room...he stopped by his study to pick up some work files that he needed to go over

He switched on the landing lights as he passed the corridor which led towards his room...he entered his room and was beyond surprised to find nearly melted candles lit inside small dainty holders that were strewn all across the room...he left the files on the side table before squinting his eyes to find someone sprawled across the black egyptian cotton sheets on his bed

He was amazed and beyond comprehension as he gazed at her sparsely clad body resting peacefully, her face shining under the moon light coming through the open curtains while the soft glow of the candles made the sheer peach negligee she wore glow amongst the black sheets... "Khushi..." he breathed as if in a daze as her perfect body lay invitingly in front of him as if in a dream

He felt his breath hitch as he slowly pulled off his tie and coat while taking off his shoes...it had been too long since the last time they had been together intimately and the sight of her lying in front of him was testing his patience to an extreme...he knew she must have planned a surprise for him, but had probably fallen asleep waiting for him...silly girl, he thought as the blood pounded in his veins looking at the feast in front of him

He quickly made his way to the bed and crawled in towards her before bending down to her face...her even breathing spoke of the deep sleep she was in and even though he was this close to waking her up just so he could lose himself in her, he controlled himself and kissed her gently on her forehead...her soft hair ticking his nose as his nostrils filled with her unique scent

He sighed as he got off the bed and decided to have a quick shower before joining her in bed...the least he could do right now was cuddle into her, though he highly doubted he would get any sleep tonight...especially with her sleeping next to him with that excuse of a nightwear she was wearing...taking a last look at her sleeping facade he made his way to the bathroom

After a refreshing shower which kind of tamed down his surging need for Khushi, he wore his pajama bottoms to keep a decent barrier between their bodies as he prepared to sleep next to her...he ran an absent hand through his hair to tame down the damp hair before switching off the lights and stepping out...he felt her before he even glanced at the now empty bed as khushi quickly hugged him from the back as he stepped out

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CONTINUED...

"So you wanted to surprise me huh?" Arnav asked Khushi a few minutes later as they lay in the aftermath of their passionate exercise...he felt her nod into the crook of his neck and giggle as she looked up and moved some of his hair that had settled over his forehead "Uh..huh...I did, but I fell asleep...I didn't know you'd be that late" she said as Arnav took her palm and kissed its center "I told my family about us...but looks like they already knew.." he said as Khushi widened her eyes...she continued to look at him in awe as he narrated the game his grandfather had played on them

"Oh my God...Arnav...do you think mamma and nani know too? Were we that transparent?!" she exclaimed as Arnav pulled her into him tighter "What does it matter if they do sweetheart...you are going to tell them anyways right?" he asked her a she looked at him and nodded "Yeah, but I want to the person to tell them...just like my mom..." she started saying when Arnav raised his eyebrows at her

She smiled suddenly and snuggled deeper into his arms "leave it...i'm sleepy now..." she said as Arnav pulled her back "You were going to tell me something right now...what was it? You don't have to keep any secrets from me...is this the same thing you were on about the other day?" Arnav asked her as she nodded and yawned "Yes...and i'll tell you...but after I tell my family about us...promise!" she said as arnav nodded and smiled at her...both shared one last kiss before closing their eyes as sleep came to them quite swiftly...both unaware of a new pandora's box that was about to be opened tomorrow.