Arshi FF:Entwined--Thrd 3 *completed* double update Page 28 - Page 9

Entwined:

Chapter-42:

It was a typical Delhi sunny day and the bright morning rays of the sun penetrated through the long glass window, directly hitting on Khushi's face causing her to shriek her already closed eyes in a constricted way as she shuffled inside the white duvet turning her face away from the sudden illumination.

She had been half-awake for quite some time now, but the bright announcement of the morning completely awakened her senses, even as a tiny serene smile curved up her lips teaming up with her peacefully shut eyes. As they say the perfect sleep is when you wake up and feel like you have just fallen asleep, but in reality it had been hours. She just had one such perfect sleep after a ridiculously long time and now that she had acknowledged the feeling, it felt serene and just complete.

It felt like just a while ago, that she had fallen right into Arnav's arms, even as he secured her all too protectively...

It felt like just a few minutes ago, that her subconscious mind have processed being cradled in his arms, and the rhythmic sound of his heart-beat that she had so closely witnessed, his choreographed walking blending with that melody, she felt like she was living in her own song, as he walked with her in his arms...

It felt like just now, that she felt him ever so tenderly placing her on the bed, her head being made to rest on the pillow...

And then the next moment she knew, the brightness of the sun started teasing her eyes.

She felt like she had been running a huge marathon for so long and her legs finally came to a rest. She didn't remember anything that happened before she fainted, or so, she would like to think and then everything else was just filled with tranquility. For the first time in years, she was looking forward for the day to begin or many such days to begin for that matter and this time around, there were no ifs and but then's. Moving on, felt good; coming out free of the virtual hand-cuffs, felt real; the thought of new beginning and new life, felt hopeful and exciting. All in all Khushi was definitely up for everything and anything that would come her way, for she now has Arnav.

Every event, every instance of her life that has brought her closer to Arnav, now felt destined. May be some of them cannot be counted into life's good events, yet, it all didn't really matter now.

For, life is not about the moments that you don't want to remember, it's all about picking up those very moments which you want to cherish for a life time.

After going about her morning routine, as Khushi stood at the window, dressed in a plain white and yellow chudidar, looking out at the urban part of the Delhi quite contrast to the one she had known, she finally braced herself for the life that awaited her. The slight breeze played with her free hair strands, the white full sleeves of her dress standing out, as she held both doors of the window wide open, her yellow dupatta trailing behind her, as she looked lost into the world outside, with her sparkling hopeful dove-eyes, Khushi simply looked like the epitome of serenity to Anjali who had just walked into her room.

Anjali just stopped by at the door, taking a moment to appreciate the quintessence of one living spirit she had known, respect evident in the way she looked at Khushi. Coming out of her little reverie, Anjali slightly knocked the door causing Khushi to snap her eyes away from the view, as she turned to her side and just as she locked her gaze with Anjali, she smiled in that genuine warm way.

"Good Morning!" Anjali smiled brightly and walked in, just as Khushi noticed the box in her hand.

"Good Morning Anjaliji, how are you doing?"

"-----I'm good, thankfully there isn't any morning sickness today, but hey, how are you doing? Looks like you've had a very good sleep?"

"You bet!"

"Awesome! Here, this one is for you..."

Khushi took the box giving Anjali one apprehensive smile and opened it, to reveal a plain white, work-saree, the crushed material of it and the transparent floral self-design standing out, bringing in the amazed smile to Khushi's face almost instantly.

"Looks like you are impressed with it..."

"I love i..." Khushi abruptly stopped talking, realizing she should probably not accept the gift and then looked at Anjali a little embarrassed by her own momentary excitement. Anjali burst out a little chuckle looking at the way Khushi made her face and walked around to sit on the bed.

"------Oh no no Anjaliji, I can't accept this..." Anjali imitated Khushi's voice, causing Khushi to look at her amused.

"No Khushi I want you to have it, Please Anjaliji, this is really not needed, Khushi I would feel good if you take this, But Anjaliji, this is..., Its for you, you have to keep this...uff!!

Do we really need this drama Khushi?" Anjali declared after her little act and Khushi burst out into a pleasant laughter while walking and joining beside Anjali.

"Can I at least ask what's the occasion?"

"---That you can"

While they both waited for each other to speak, Khushi processed what Anjali was waiting for and chuckled again. "Yeah, okay, so what is the occasion Anjaliji?"

"Anjali it is, please Khushi, okay no pressure, take my name when you feel like" she rolled her eyes and turned around to look at her. "So, these past few days have been quite stressful for all of us, and I thought we could something like a small party..."

Anjali stopped speaking just as Khushi's face masked with a blank look. "Oh no, I'm not throwing it, you can relax..."

Khushi laughed at the warm sense of humor Anjali carried along with her.

"In fact the party is not from me or by me, so you will be spared with all the extra drama, because it's for me..." Anjali processed the confused look in Khushi's face and went about explaining.

"Oh this feels good. I never had a girl right in my home to speak about myself..." she laughed and then turned around walking towards the window. "For me, it was always being the voice of something else you know? There is a person who would think of something creative, another person who would innovatively element a tune to the creative thought, there are few others who again create a whole master-piece, and I get to be the spoon that takes the well-prepared dish into the mouth, a mere voice for a deeper musical creation..."

"But that's what makes the music appealing..."

"True, but I've always had this feeling or urge you can call it, to do, you know that something extra?"

Khushi nodded in acknowledgement. "You really have given me that extra bit inspiration that I guess I was looking for all these days..."

"Me??"

"Hmm, hmm! Woman is such a strong aspect of this society Khushi, and looking at you makes me think of things that usually are ignored or not thought of, amidst this luxury and easy life we get to live. The sense of social responsibility, the awareness of things, and the importance for the respect a woman righteously deserves..." Anjali sighed and looked at Khushi if there are any signs of mortification in her eyes. Finding nothing of that sort, just as she expected, Anjali smiled reaching out to her.

"Nothing dramatic and nothing revolutionary. I'm just being woman, wanting to express myself the way I'm, through the only way I can---- music. And so I ended up writing a song,..."

""Wow!"

"And I now have my own very first private album..."

"That's awesome!!"

"Thank you, well, it was released, and is doing pretty well, so there is a small private success party. I just want you to be there, trust me, no public attention at all..."

"No problem Di, I'd love to be there..." Realizing what just came out of her mouth, khushi bit her tongue and Anjali just remained alarmed for a good few seconds. Awkwardness completely filling inside her, khushi cleared throat looking everywhere other than Anjali's warm eyes.

"I, uh, it just, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"That completely settles our argument of Anjaliji and Anjali!" Anjali spoke to a stumped Khushi. "Really, I would love to have a sister like you with me..."

"-----okay irrespective of the Arnav-clause' I'm not going to intrude this time, you can trust me, does that feel better?"

All Khushi did was smile in gratitude and embrace Anjali in a tender swift moment. There was so much of genuine warmth coming towards her in this house, it was all too much to take in, yet she was extremely grateful to say the least.

Just as they pulled away Anjali noticed her wet eyes. "Khushi?"

She immediately dried her little wet eyes as she looked at Anjali earnestly--- "I never really thought I'd again get close even to the f' of family ever again, there is just so much of gratitude I have for each one of you all, thank you even seems such a small word. All I can say is that I'll remain indebted to you, as long as I live..."

"Whoa! I heard you can get quite philosophical, I can see that!"

"He talks about me??" They both went silent for a moment before bursting out into a small laughter together. "Actually scrap that, I know he wouldn't, Shee it is right?"

"Yes, thank god for the acknowledgement, for a moment there, I was worried if I will have to break your heart, because you should know he is hopeless that way, he keeps it all to himself, everything, but believe me, you definitely mean a lot more to him than you probably know..." Anjali suddenly sounded so serious that she almost thought she would get to hear more of that, until she heard her speak again.

"But Khushi, if you ever want a complaint box about the hopelessness of him, something that's not going to improve, you know where to come right? coz I obviously will have more to complain about..."

"Oh cut the crap you melodramatic aunties! Let me just sleep, it's not even afternoon!" their comfortable laughter was interrupted by sudden third voice coming from the bed behind them, and they turned around to look at Sheethal who was completely forgotten until that point, whining and shuffling inside her blanket. Khushi looked back at Anjali and winked her one eye. "Di, are we allowed to get a date tonight?" she asked increasing the tone of her voice completely high.

"Do you think you actually need another date?"

Khushi used her body language to tell Anjali that she was talking about Sheethal and not herself. Processing the little act late as usual, Anjali nodded and started playing around.

"Oh date!!" she raised her voice too, dragging her words. "Of course you can Khushi!" they did small thumbs-up to each other.

"Any specifications?"

"----a...any specifications?"

Khushi looked at Anjali hopelessly and continued with her own act. "Can he belong to the glam world too?"

Anjali widened her eyes. "Is there anyone who belongs to the glam world?"

"Yeah... like someone who belongs to TV?"

"------Khushi shut up!" Sheethal protested from behind.

"Oh Di, the one who comes on TV every day at 10 in the morning!"

"-----Who comes at 10 in the morning Khushi?"

"Hi, this is TodayYou News"wake up before it is too late and you are watching Crime Report at 10 with me Nand Ki...auch"

A pillow came hitting khushi in the head and Anjali laughed as the two girls chased each other throwing things in the room, with more or less Sheethal beating up Khushi with possibly all the pillows as their combined laughter echoed around.

**

A off-white casual shirt over which was a jet black blazer and a pair of shaded jeans did seem like a pretty decent look to Arnav, casual as well as elegant but it was only when a certain epitome of white walked into the party had he realized, that maybe he should have made a little more efforts.

Saree, was something he had never seen khushi wearing, but never in his mere dreams did he think that something as simple as a garment could start the rush of wild emotions within him all over again. The floral transparent material draped around her petite form, revealing right amounts of her skin in right areas, the shoulder moulds exposed by her white sleeveless blouse, dark cloud of her hair that flew in waves down her shoulders and just as she lifted her eyes to directly look into his, he noticed a small shiny pendant, hanging from the middle of her scalp right over her forehead, which for reasons unknown took his breath away. He sighed driven with sudden rush of feelings and he smiled, or rather tried to in that awkward way causing her to frown almost instantly.

After two hours of hanging around in groups, and efficiently avoiding every possible alone time with her, when the slow dancing began, he was left alone, with her awkwardly standing beside her, tugging his hands inside his pockets, even as her perfume and innate aura continued to intoxicate him, he tried to keep his calm, as much as he can. For several silent moments, they watched, as Shyam and Anjali danced in their little own funny way, giggling and playing along; as Sheethal and Nk danced completely having their own private witty conversations and almost everyone else, dancing in pairs, causing him to frown at his own sudden urge to just hold her close to him.

"I did ask you for a dance before..."

He heard her say and looked to his side, just in time to catch her looking up at him, the very hazels sparkling with some kind of different emotion, he had never seen before and it only tugged his heart right away causing him to gulp, completely being lost under her spell.

He missed her; he missed her a lot and this weird something between them was getting beyond his tolerance. Completely imprisoned by her eyes, he stretched his palm open keeping his eye on her as if his actions were following the instructions of something else other than his own mind. He walked her slowly to the dance floor, and for several moments all he did was to hold her hands and look into her eyes, fascinated and lost.

Involuntarily even, his hand found a place at the bare of her waist, his palm perfectly settling at the little curve, and this time he was too preoccupied if his hand would tremble to notice her little shiver. He gulped again, looking at her with mounting passion, yet there was something holding him back. She smiled assuring him of something and he didn't know if she processed what was going on in his mind. As they sway for the light music for several moments, millions of questions hanging in between them, Arnav found it extremely difficult to not concentrate at the perfect way she moved, draped in that gorgeous saree, looking nothing but exquisite and casting indescribable spells on him, with every passing minute. He found it torturing to say the least, to have her in his arms and think of keeping his distance or rather, to have her right in his arms and to not be able to keep distance any longer; More so, to fight against the urge to not draw her anymore closer. He was losing it and it was all getting too much.

It had even occurred silly to him that he was suddenly thinking about the way he was supposed to act with her, when in all reality, he can just be whatever he want to be, because it was her or rather, because it was him to speak from her perspective.

Argh!

"Khushi!" he blurted out suddenly causing her widen her eyes up at him.

"I, uh..."

His phone suddenly buzzed inside his pocket and that suddenly gave him a moment of relief. He needs to get his mind right and then come back to her. The indifference cannot be going on now. He excused himself showing the buzzing phone and walked her out of the dance floor whilst walking to a side to find some peace. Dismissing the call, shoving the phone back into his pocket, he buried his head in his hands and indulged his mind to process the weird tangle of multiple emotions.

First he needs to shove away the images of that fateful night from his mind. Maybe that would help him to behave normal with her. He can no longer take even the slightest bit of dejected look in her eyes, which he distantly might have just seen. And just like that he suddenly knew what he needs to do. Ever since that night, he found himself loathing what he had done, in many occasions and he thought back then apologizing for it properly might help. But then when he met her again, in Goa, she didn't really give him a chance to properly apologize and it was forgotten in her own efforts of gratitude towards him for it all.

But today, having known the entire truth surrounding her life, he cannot just ignore the apology. He knew that was wrong, and he distantly felt responsible for the trauma she had gone through, post surgery. He is aware of the psychological pressure she had gone through and also the treatment for it all back then, and today he couldn't help but despise the fact that he might have just added to her fears.

"You look at me like I'm your prey and that brings back--------"

She had once said, he remembered and he now knew the depths of meanings of all her fears. It's not that she still holds anything against him; he just knew she doesn't, but this is more for him, his own conscience more than anything else. All he needs to do it is talk about it out and loud, confess and apologize. That should actually settle everything. He decided.

**

He came back to the party hall and looked around, but she was nowhere to be found. Just when he thought he would ask someone, he have seen the very vision in white walking out of the hall, towards the parking.

"Khushi...!" He called out once outside just as she stopped and turned around. He jogged to reach her and stopped right ahead of her.

"Where are you going?"

"Home..."

""what why? The party is still on..."

"Well, I thought you might want to enjoy it alone rather..?"

He opened his mouth to retort but closed it immediately processing her pointed look. "Khushi, I just-------"

"Can you please take me home Arnav, I just want to rest.."

"Okay..."

They remained absolutely silent throughout the way, with varied things going on in both of their minds. Just as he reached the main gate opening of his mansion waiting for the gates to open so he could drive in and just as gates were opened and Arnav removed his foot from the brakes, Khushi absent mindedly opened the door of her side and got out. As a result she stumbled onto the ground, the water in the nearby mud-pit splashing itself completely over one side of her attire. Everything of which happened in such quick moments, it took moments for Arnav to process what exactly happened.

"Khushi!" he uttered and was beside her in the next minute. He helped her to stand up and once confirmed that she was completely alright, his rage overpowered him and he pushed her slightly away using his arms.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Have you gone blind? We haven't yet reached inside Khushi? Why did you get down?" he yelled causing her to squirm a little, as she involuntarily took a step behind towards the road. Just as she blankly took another step behind, he caught her firmly at her arm and pulled her towards him, just in time avoiding the speed rushing vehicle from hitting her.

"Khushi! For heaven's sake just watch it goddamit!!"

"I was just checking if you were having any problem in touching me..." she uttered still lost in some reverie.

"This is not funny!!! Alright?" he yelled holding her by arms and then vigorously brought his hands to hold her face. "This is bloody not funny khushi..."

"But you are being indifferent to me, it's like you are there with me, but not right there..." she uttered in her low voice.

"Because I was scared if..." he trailed off, his voice suddenly reducing its decibels as he processed her hurt eyes. But somehow, the rage inside him just spiked up this time looking at her distressed state. He had put her into this and the realization just made his temper worse. He tugged her face between his both hands and brought her closer.

"Do you really want to hear it?"

She just looked at him, lost and still hurt. "Because I was loathing in my own self-guilt Khushi, because I was scared if I was the same for you like every other men you have come across, because I swore to be that different man in your life only after I have already done that one deed which I shouldn't have ever done!"

"What in the hell are you talking about?"

"Tha...that night in the hospital?"

"Huh?"

She looked away thoughtfully trying to process what he was talking about and the mere fact that doesn't even remember something that happened all those months ago, spoke volumes about her mindset. The realization of how easily she forgave him just made it a little more worse for his insane mind.

"Damn you Arnav, why the hell are you bringing that up now?" she asked incredulously.

"Because, I did exactly same thing to you..."

"Oh just shut up! Seriously? I wouldn't be alive standing before you right now if that didn't happen, you regretting it would mean, would you rather prefer me dead then?"

"What the fu...?"

He stopped arguing, abruptly locking his eyes with that of hers and as they held each other imprisoned in their furious glares, it finally occurred to him, how ridiculous this whole argument had been. "Forget it" he said swiftly letting go off her arms, causing her to stumble back a little, as he hastily turned around and walked inside taking quick long strides.

**

Khushi stood there, beside the half-parked car, staring at his walking away image and for reasons indescribable, her lips started curving up into a soft dismissing smile, as she continued to stare at his image until she can no longer see. She just replayed the conversation they just had, and her smile only grew wider processing the traits of his thoughts, her love for him, increasing with every little acknowledgement.

And just like that, she knew what she has to do. The decision settling inside her senses, she broke into a small walk which turned into a jog and eventually into a long run, as she made her way inside the mansion, following the path, taking the corridor and finally reaching Arnav's room. As her little running stance took his posture vigorously removing his blazer from behind, she just rushed, landing herself into his arms, from behind, hooking her arms under his torso, burying her head over his back, even as his startled form, acknowledged the sudden hit of softness behind his back, all in sudden quick moments.

"Just stay where you are Arnav and let me speak, because if you turn around, I might not be able to look in your eye and still say this..."

"There is something you should really know..."

To be continued...

Chapter-43