Little late but here is the next update.
Part - 34
Arnav left her to her room reluctantly not wanting to tire her up tonight. They needed to leave for Delhi early morning and looking at the clock he felt that she could use a couple of hours sleep. Both parted smiling, reminiscing the time they had spent together.
**
Khushi went for a quick shower before going to the bed.
When she came out she heard a soft knock on the door.
Grinning she thought, So Mr. Raizada couldn't hold on to his resolve of staying away.
She opened the door, the grin still plastered on her face but it faltered seeing the person before her and she could only say, Aap?
The person came inside after asking her permission with a grim face locking the door behind, making her alarmed.
**
The next morning saw Anjali, Shyam, Khushi, Arnav, Akash, La and NK leaving for Delhi whereas Mamji and Mami stayed back with Devyani to spend some more time in Sheesh Mahal and look after the maintenance work.
**
Khushi felt the dull ache setting near her temple.
Not wanting to alarm Arnav she washed down the painkiller before it could worsen and leaned back on her seat closing her eyes, shutting herself from the cheerful banter going around her.
And, that was how Arnav found her when he came back from the washroom. Thinking her asleep he slid down in his seat carefully beside her, least he disturbed her. He had seen her red eyes this morning and had known for a fact that she hadn't slept last night too, though she hardly had enough time for a quiet peaceful slumber.
His forehead creased seeing her frowning before he smiled fondly thinking how adorable she looked.
He touched her temple with his thumb and forefinger and caressed the place until the frown eased out. He smiled; his eyes twinkled as he felt content. He pressed her lips just where he was touching before going back to his laptop to go through some meeting agenda, which he needed to attend when he reached Delhi, completely missing the lone tear escaped from the corner of her eyes.
**
"Khushi"
Khushi turned as she heard him calling before smiling brightly at him.
He kissed her cheek when the others chose to ignore the scene as it had become very common for them since last two days, and said sounding little low "Khushi I won't be able to see you for next five days."
As Khushi stared at him questioningly, her eyes mirrored the dismay of his, he groaned before kissing her lips and said grudgingly, "I have back to back meeting today till late tonight and then I am flying to London. The London office needs my attention for some matter. I will only be back on Saturday l atnight or say Sunday early morning, but don't worry I won't miss your show on Sunday for anything." He tried to smile.
He hated leaving her and go for so long, only if the problem in London office could be dealt from here or Mamaji could have gone.
But the old man too needed some rest and sometime to pass with his wife, otherwise he was always dwelling between the various offices around the world of Raizada Corp. to let Arnav focus on his AR designs better and handle RC works from here as much as he could manage. He sighed.
How he wished to take her along only if she didn't have her school and the upcoming show, where she was actually performing first time as a real performer. Not just a charity or fun performance, but a real one and he was the only one who made her agreed to this offer.
A renowned organizer had watched her quite few times in the same club and had come to her with an offer to perform in his upcoming event. But Khushi being Khushi had outright said that she sings for fun, it wasn't her profession, she liked dance better in that category.
Still the organizer had insisted her to take his card and call him if she changed her mind, because he thought it would be a loss to not showcase her talent.
La had overheard this conversation and somehow managed to smuggle the card from Khsuhi's bag and had come to talk to Arnav. She had said that it would be stupidity if Khsuhi missed such opportunity. He too felt the same hence; Arnav had heard everything and then had approached Khushi cautiously. Though she was adamant before, but Arnav Singh Raizda was The ASR' for nothing.
He knew how to convince his clients and make them mewl in his tune and he knew how to convince his Khushi too. He mustered the best puppy face and pleaded like it was only goal of his life and it had desired effect on her.
She had shaken her head exasperatedly and said gritting her teeth, "Stop the drama Arnav. You very well know I cannot say no when you make that face. I will do it." and he had grinned after that ear to ear.
Now he cursed, Damn! Why he had to convince her? Or else he could have taken her with him.
Khushi smiled understanding his reluctance of leaving her and go as she said cupping his face with a hand, "It's okay Arnav. I understand and I have nothing to complain. I have spent some extremely beautiful times with you to last a lifetime in last two days. And how can I forget my Arnav is also the Arnav Singh Raizada, who has a huge empire to run and lots of responsibilities to fulfill. We will meet soon." She kissed him on his lips.
Feeling better he concluded, "You don't have to live a lifetime with the memories of last two days, Because My Khushi I have planned, he side hugged her as he said, to make such many memories together for our whole life." Kissing her nose he left to get their luggage not hearing the whisper that followed, "I wish".
**
Khushi came out from bathroom in hurry, knowing Arnav would call her any moment.
She sat on the bed, her body tired as hell and her mind all fuzzy but she knew she wouldn't be able to rest. Her mind and heart wouldn't allow her to.
She was craving for Arnav, for his presence, his touch. She was desperate.
It was her condition in just three days, how she was supposed to... but she shook her head to stop herself thinking in that direction. She had all night to muse over it.
Sleep had abandoned her completely since the time she was in Lucknow. Now all she could do at night was toss and turn on bed and then sit with her guitar to wait for the dawn to break. She had started smoking again because Arnav wasn't there to distract her and little more than before. She sighed.
Just at that moment her mobile rang making her broke into a huge smile, in all day and she picked up before it could ring again,
"Hello Arnav...
And they talked for almost an hour, before Arnav left to attend some business call.
Khushi lay awake on her bed staring at the ceiling, when her phone rang again, this time it was her brother and she picked up,
"Yes Abhi, is everything done?"
A strong male voice came from other end, "Yes Di and I am waiting like never before."
Khushi smiled as she said, "I know and I love you Abhi, you know that right."
"Yes my Pari Di", this time the voice had a smile in it
They talked a few more minutes before Khushi disconnected the call exhaling loudly.
**
Arnav had reached Delhi an hour back and he drove the car directly to Khushi's apartment uncaring what NK and La would think or say, waking up in middle of the night, if they did. All he cared that he didn't see Khushi for five days at a stretch and he couldn't go to sleep another night without seeing her once.
**
Khushi's phone rang on the bedside table. She was sitting on the balcony with her guitar in the wee hours waiting for the first ray of sun, so she can leave for her morning run when she heard the ring, frowning at who could it be at this hour and as dread clawed in her heart she leapt towards the door and reached for her phone in seconds.
As soon she saw the caller id she took the call hurriedly before it could drop ringing.
"He... hello" her voice trembled.
"Khushi"
Her name from the husky voice of her Arnav, was nothing less than an endearment to her and she closed her eyes contended when two tear drops slid down from the closed eyelids making their way down her cheeks. She again heard,
"Khushi come outside, I am waiting."
Her eyes widen as the meaning of his words made sense to her. The phone dropped from her shivering hands as she bolted towards the main door of the apartment before unlocking and yanking it open.
She stood frozen as she saw him before her smiling amused.
"Hey I am really here", she heard him say and then all she knew that she was holding him in a fierce hug, her whole body weight on him as he staggered back a few steps before balancing himself and hugging her back with same fierceness. How they had craved for each other, letting the other know.
**
He made her sit on his lap. The dark circles around her eyes, the tiredness on her face didn't get unnoticed by him and he cursed under his breath knowing it was result of their distance.
He cursed the inefficient employees of his London office a little more for calling him there for a silly thing that they could have handled themselves. He would have flown back next day if not for Mamaji who called him to inform that their NYC office also needs a small visit for a day or two. He had managed to shorten the visit for a day and then had flown back here as soon as he could.
And, now here he was holding his angel in his arms, who right now looked at peace hiding her face in the crook of his neck. He kissed on top of her head. She drew back and smiled at him, the most pleased smile he had ever seen. He never thought after his Ma and Di anyone could be this pleased to see him. He smiled back at her in satisfaction after getting his fill of her face, though it felt not enough.
As they held their gaze, with a groan his mouth found hers and she moaned in pleasure at the contact. They kissed to make up for those five days...
Five days of missing each other,
Five days of not being able to see each other,
Five days of not being able to feel each other,
Five days of not being able to be this close to each other.
Five days of unending wait to live this moment.
In between the kiss Arnav managed to mumble, "I want you Khushi... Please."
This was the first time Arnav was so blatant about his need and Khushi was pleased to know that he craved for as much as her. He didn't need to plead her for her and so she said, "You know Arnav I have said already I can't never let you down or left you feel dejected , not especially, when we both want the same thing, each other, together. Didn't I? You don't need to plead me for anything not now, not ever. I am all yours"
Arnav nodded hard before claiming her lips in a rough kiss, ruled by love, passion and need. Soon their clothes came off their body and lay scattered on the floor as he lowered her down on the bed both said in unison "I love you"
Both smiled before their body joined for their love.
**
Arnav, Akash, Anjali and Shyam took their seat on the front row for VIP guests. Arnav was also a sponsor of this show, but not for Khushi.
AR Designs was showcasing their new line of casual and reasonable clothes for day to day life in this event in a small fashion show exclusively made for Indian customer, keeping the change of weather in this country in mind.
As they took their seats, Khushi, La and NK came to meet them for few minutes.
Everyone wished them good luck for the show. Arnav noticed an undecipherable emotion in Khushi's eye. But before he could make any sense or ask her, she left saying its time they get ready and soon the show began taking Arnva's all attention, not letting him ponder over things.
After AR's fashion show it was time for Khushi, La and NK's performance and as expected they set the already heated stage on fire.
Arnav heard them again performing Delhi' where the audience looked awestruck with Khushi's ability to play with the strings and a loud applaud erupted as they finished their first song, but more was to come.
Arnav turned to his side only to chuckle as he saw his brother, Di and Jijaji mirroring same expression as other, mouth hung open, and eyes wide as they took in the real Khushi and her crazy group.
Yes they had seen them performing but not like this wild.
Khushi sang "Roar" and Akash could swear he saw her winking and mock shooting at him.
They performed on "Here's to never growing up".
Akash and Arnav guffawed at Anjali and Shyam's comical expression and also narrated their dates together. Shyam choked sniggering and Anjali looked shocked first and then she looked at Akash before guffawing loud, saying "and you wanted to show her your guitar skills?"
Akash scratched his neck looking embarrassed.
Arnav then heard her sing "what a wonderful world". When he turned, apprehensive about what would he see, towards the grandstand, satisfied he only saw her smiling to him."
It was the last performance from them and suddenly the stage became dark before the soft spotlights started playing over their head. All saw Khushi sitting with a guitar on a high stool before the speaker, where others took their respective places before their instruments.
Khushi hummed before she started,
| [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLRgA1_j6AQ[/YOUTUBE] Now what if I never kiss your lips again |
Or feel the touch of your sweet embrace.
How would I ever go on?
Without you, there's no place to belong
Well someday love is going to lead you back to me
But till it dose I'll have an empty heart
So I'll just have to believe
Somewhere out there you're thinking of me
Until the day I let you go,
Until we say our next hello
It's not goodbye.
Arnav sat stunned,
He couldn't fathom why something tug in his heart as he heard her sing the song.
Why he felt that her voice crackled, as she sang It's not goodbye'.
Why he felt fear gripping in his heart as he saw her drinking in his sight thirstily while singing.
For the life of him he couldn't understand why she chose to sing something like this for the finale of her performance.
It should have been ended in a happy note but as he looked around he saw the melancholy in her voice was unmistakable for everyone present there as all had grim writ on their faces.
As she ended all stood up from their respective seats to give her a standing ovation but Arnav couldn't move a muscle as he sat on his seat glued as if thunderstruck, feeling that his life is slipping off from his hands.
But he bolted up as soon as he saw Khushi and her group moving out of the grandstand and walked hurriedly towards the greenroom, before he saw her missing again.
Last time's memory after a same kind of song still fresh in his mind, which made him, ran after a few steps to reach for her.
**
"Khushi... Khushi", Arnav called desperately and saw her with relief coming out of the crowd of the green room smiling at him.
As soon they reached for each other Arnav caught her in his embrace crashing her on his body and Khushi didn't make a single sound of pain as she hugged him back with same fervor.
After few moments when Arnav came out of the hug he cupped her face, still in her embrace, and asked urgently but softly, "You are not going to leave me, right?"
Khushi gulped a little but said cheerily "Why do you ask that?"
Arnav closed his eyes inhaling deeply to get some of his semblance back and said little lightly than before "May be I am appalled by the song or the pain in your voice or it is just my insecurity... but tell me you are not, right?" He asked again just to hear her repeat him positively, to feel assured form her.
He knew he was acting nothing better than an insecure lost child, but he couldn't help the fear of losing her.
He didn't want to wake up one fine morning to find her gone from his life like his father and mother.
He was insecure and had no qualms to show his vulnerability to Khushi. She was part of his existence. Hell, she had become the reason of his existence and he was scared to lose her and go through the same pain again as he had gone through twice before. So he needed to hear it from her.
She smiled serenely as she held his face in her hand and he pressed his face more into to her palm to feel the warmth of her.
She took his hand in hers as she dragged him out of the crowd, out of the stadium towards the car parking saying nothing and Arnav once again let her control him.
**
They drove to Khushi's apartment as she wanted.
When Khushi opened the door of the apartment Arnav held her hand questioning her through his eyes that what was she doing?
She turned and smiled assuring him as she took him in her room.
As they crossed the threshold Khushi threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately with all the love she felt for him.
He first was little shocked but soon he responded too.
But Arnav was in for more pleasant shocks for tonight.
He knew Khushi was bold girl but today the parameter raised several notch higher when she made him sit on the bed and slowly stripped out from her clothes before him.
She took out her wrap blouse looking straight into his eyes as he gulped, then slowly she came out of her curvy white jeans and stood before him in her black lacy thong bikinis and stilettos. She let her hair lose and fall on her shoulders in waves and came to stand before him.
He was speechless when she made him stand before her.
Slowly came of his colorblock sport coat, then his long sleeve white shirt and last his pleated-front pant. Arnav himself helped her to get rid of his shoes and shocks eagerly and last came off his boxers. He lay bare before her eyes which glinted with desire and passion and more love just like his.
He helped her with the lacy things as she straddled him on bed. She papered kisses all over his body not letting him move an inch from his place.
He pleaded desperately in need of touching her, "Khushi... baby please."
She said in husky, desire and love filled voice, "let me pleasure you tonight love, let me make you believe I am always yours and I will be always with you. It doesn't matter if I am there with you or not, here Arnav frowned a little but let her speak as his voice was long gone when she kept on touching him intimately while speaking, my touch will never leave you. You will feel me in your every pour always, I will be here, She touched the place where his heart lay inside, always."
And, Arnav couldn't move, couldn't say a thing as he lay under her immobile as she took him to a new level of passion, he could reach only with her.
**
As he slept spent on her bed, snuggling to her bosom, she kept him tight in her embrace and silent tears flew down her face as she hummed the lines form a song...
| [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtVO6_kutZU[/YOUTUBE] |
Time has come, what's done is done
It's time to move on
To another place, another space,
maybe circling some other sun
Don't ask why, don't ask how
I still can't explain
To say goodbye, goodbye for now till I see you again
In the sunlight that's where I'll be
In the moon night close your eyes, you will see me
In the sunrise in the twilight
I'll be the morning and the evening star
I will be there with you wherever you are
**
Next morning when Arnav woke up he saw the side of his bed empty and after checking the whole apartment when he found no trace of her he called La and NK only to find that they were out after a long night wild party and Akash was with them too and they had no idea about Khushi after she left with him.
A feeling of trepidation gripped his heart tight; he remembered what she said last night, "It doesn't matter if I am there with you or not. My touch will never leave you. You will feel me in your every pour always, I will be here, She touched the place where his heart lay inside, always."
He quickly paced inside her room and yanked open her cupboard only to find it completely empty, but something sparkling caught his eyes. It was the bracelet he had given her on their date night and as he took it in his shaking hand he found a note beneath it, which read...
I Love You
I am sorry that I am going away from you, but know it, Today I die to never live again. I have lived my life with you and I can't live it again when you are not there by my side.
Be okay. Hate me, but be okay. I will always love you.
P.S. Don't think I am leaving you alone, I will be always around you,
How?
In the sunlight that's where I'll be
In the moon night close your eyes, you will see me
In the sunrise in the twilight
I'll be the morning and the evening star
I will be there with you wherever you are
As I said "it's not Goodbye"
The next thing Arnav knew that he had dropped on his knees clutching the note and the bracelet as a cry of agony escaped from his mouth, "WHY KHUSHI? WHY?"
Till I see you again
I'll be right here remembering when
And if time is on our side
There will be no tears to cry on down the road
There is one thing I can't deny
It's not goodbye
**
Khushi stared out of the window of the plane. Her eyes dry but they were not focused, lost in some other place...
You'd think I'd be strong enough to make it trough
And rise above when the rain falls down
But it's so hard to be strong
When you've been missing somebody so long
It's just a matter of time I'm sure
But time takes time and I can't hold on
So won't you try as hard as you can
To put my broken hearth together again?
***
Until the day I let you go,
Until we say our next hello
It's not goodbye.
Till I see you again
I'll be right here remembering when
And if time is on our side
There will be no tears to cry on down the road
There is one thing I can't deny
It's not goodbye
**
IMP NOTE:
Friends I am going for a holiday for 25 days starting from 30th of March. I will try to give another update before I leave and also will try to give you 1 or 2 updates if I get internet connection where I am going, but can't promise anything...
But don't worry I will continue with both the stories once I am back.
Love you all and Forget me not
Udne Ki Aasha
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