Thanks everyone for your constant support and motivation. Your comments truly make me feel special. I'm sorry for not replying to your lovely comments. I truly am.
My Asli Duniya has taken a completely jam-packed road. That was the reason I couldn't complete the update by Monday. Sorry for being so late and sorry for any mistakes in advance. Not proof-read.
This may be the last chapter but this is also the longest chapter I've ever written. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Reading!!!
(Banner Credit : Khirad aka Rabbave)
Chapter-17
Khushi was beating the coffee when Arnav came to stand behind her. Her fingers tightened on the spoon as she felt her arm brushing against the cotton of his shirt while preparing the coffee. Arnav heard her sharp intake of breath and put his arms on her both sides effectively trapping her. Although he wasn't touching her Khushi felt her breath hitch and heartbeat quickening. In the silent kitchen with only the sound of spoon beating the coffee in the mug and their breaths, Khushi could clearly hear her racing heartbeats. She wondered not for the first time if he could hear it too. The silence along with his proximity was increasing her nervousness. She thought to get rid of both.
"Arnavji why don't you go and sit, I'll bring coffee in few minutes"
"I prefer being here than sitting alone"
Bad idea! Very bad idea! His warm breath tickling her face didn't help in relieving her of any nervousness but heightened her senses further.
"Khushi"
"Arnavji you please let me do my work" Khushi said lightly pushing on his one hand so that he takes the clue and leave her alone. But Arnav was in no such mood. Khushi at his place, in his kitchen and in his arms - this was a first. He would be a fool to let go. He turned her to look at her face.
"What did I do?"
"You.. you.. Arnavji please"
"Please what?"
"You make me nervous, happy now?"
Khushi heard him chuckling as soon as she told him.
"Why are you laughing?"
"After hearing you naming me with all the ridiculous sort of names it's funny that you can still get nervous around me. I mean I'm the same what did you say, yeah Rakshas"
"But that was in the beginning. It's different now"
"What's different?" Arnav asked innocently.
Khushi knew the innocence was only a ploy but she won't give him anymore satisfaction than she already has given.
"At that time I would have been making your coffee in the pantry not here in your kitchen and definitely not standing trapped between your arms" she said trying to sound confident. She could see that her reply surprised him. He wasn't expecting this.
Arnav was taken aback for a moment before he concealed the surprise he felt with her unexpected answer, a mischievous glint entering his eyes.
"Okay. Let's change the equation some more then" With that he moved her hand from the slab counter to hold her waist. He saw her eyes widening in surprise moving from the place her hands rested on her waist to his face.
He leaned forward kissing her forehead. Khushi opened her eyes the moment she felt him leaning back. Their eyes darted to each other. Arnav satisfactorily noticed the red hue coloring her face.
"Arnavji coffee"
"Baad mein" He bent down again and kissed her closed eyelids one by one.
"Doodh thanda ho jayega"
"Hone do" With that he kissed her right cheek.
"Koi aa gaya toh"
"There is no one here" And he kissed her left cheek.
He leaned forward aiming her lips. Khushi felt his warm breath fanning her mouth. Her fist tightened on the side of her suit in anticipation. With her lips slightly parted she looked like a seductress to Arnav. He reduced the distance between them.
"Amanji ka phone aa gaya toh"
"Aane do" He bent down without thinking but then leaned back as her words registered in his mind.
"What? Aman ka phone, seriously?" He looked amused at Khushi.
"Haan. He will call you in case he has some work related questions" Khushi replied easily like it was the most obvious thing.
"In the middle of the night?"
Now that made Khushi unsure. "Umm.. You guys keep busy even till late in video conferencing with international clients, how am I to know?"
"Khushi tumhe ek kitaab likhni chahiye Romantic moment ruin karne ke 100 tarike by Khushi Kumari Gupta"
Singh Raizada, her mind supplied. But she stopped herself from saying it loud. She didn't know from where the thought came to her. May be because she was in love with the man who stood in front of her. The same man who doesn't even believe in love, forget about marriage. Khushi wondered what she would do.
"What happened?" Arnav waved a hand in front of her to get her attention.
"Nothing. I'm feeling hungry. Let's have some sandwiches with coffee"
Khushi breathed out a sigh. How could she tell him! This will put a stop to their relation even before it could see the day of light. She knew better than to bring the M word and spoil the evening. She decided to wait for sometime before discussing about their future. Khushi somehow had a feeling that he won't like to give her reasons, not before he was ready himself. That was a part of Arnav Singh Raizada. He believed what he wanted to believe and when he wanted to believe like their first interaction. He didn't believe her clarification but later over the time himself without asking her anything gave her a clean chit. She had a feeling that he must have tried to run away from his feelings for her before finally succumbing to them. She was afraid to share her past with him for the same reason. She wasn't sure if he would believe her. The fear of the possibility of him not believing her was constant when she had told him about herself and Shyam. May be Arnav knowing her better over the time and also his own feelings made him believe her story.
Khushi decided to go with the flow for time being as they sat nibbling the sandwiches. They ate the food sharing smiles as they talked about general things varying from work to home. Arnav drove her home after an hour not wanting to part with her but he knew there was no excuse to keep her with him. Moreover he knew the day had emotionally drained both of them and so a little rest was much needed.
Khushi entered AR with a bounce in her step. She felt free after months. Khushi thanked Lavanya once again in her mind. She had always been a true friend to her. Lavanya had been ecstatic when she told her about everything. The fact that Arnav knew about her life completely made her feel better and confident. When she had said yes to him weeks ago it was her giving in to the strange mix of feelings he evoked in her. But after sharing her past with him, Khushi felt in touch with her deepest feelings for him. She felt more connected to him.
Her eyes automatically darted towards his cabin as she took her seat but there was no sight of him. She thought if he was still in his penthouse above. The idea of going up and meeting him was tempting but she controlled herself chiding herself for behaving like a silly teenager. Khushi looked at her wrist watch and realized she was half an hour before the office time. She was thinking about Arnav when the ringing of her phone broke her trance. The caller id brought an instant smile to her face.
"Good morning" she beamed in phone.
"Morning Sunshine. Now hurry up and come out. I'm waiting outside"
"Out? Are we going somewhere?" she asked wondering if he has planned a surprise for her.
"Somewhere means? We've to go to office. Don't tell me you're planning to take off, I won't allow it"
"I'm already in office" she replied in a small-voice.
"What? But it still isn't time" His tone clearly told that he was upset.
"I went to see off Lavanya and completely forgot to check the time in my excitement to meet you"
This instantly warmed Arnav's heart bringing a smile to his face. Khushi may have directly reached office but it was because she was thinking about him.
"I guess we both surprised each other. See you in few minutes"
Khushi kissed the screen after ending the call. Even though it was yesterday, she felt they have come a long way from where they had started. The ease and comfort were very much there along with the nervous jitters she felt around him.
By the time Arnav reached office most of the staff had come. He saw Khushi sitting in her chair immersed in a file. For the first time Arnav Singh Raizada disliked the punctuality of his staff. He wanted to go and hug her but knew better than going on that plan. He was sure that she won't appreciate his way of greeting her. He considered it better to keep it personal. He too wasn't a man with a liking for public display of affection though hugging Khushi seemed perfectly appropriate to him.
Khushi had the feeling of being watched. She looked sideways to find Arnav standing at the entrance, his intent gaze fixed on her. She gave him a bright smile before diverting her attention back to the file. She could see him approaching her from the corner of her eyes.
"Ms. Gupta have you read the details of the project?" He stood in front of her.
"I was just going through it" Khushi replied trying to keep a straight face lest someone finds out about them.
Arnav smiled to himself thinking about the perfect location of her seat. It only wasn't visible from his cabin but also it being in one corner could shade them from the whole staff. It's time to have some fun!
Arnav leaned forward keeping a hand on the backrest of her chair and one on the desk completely shielding her from everyone's eyes.
"I hope you have read the list of requirements"
Khushi closed her eyes as his strong masculine scent hit her nerves. She felt dizzy as she forced herself to look at him. The smirk plastered on his face dissuaded her from the glare she intended to throw at him.
"I'm going through it" her voice coming out weakly.
"Be there with the notes in my cabin in ten minutes" he said standing straight but not before briefly touching her fingers acting completely nonchalant about it. Her eyes snapped at him in irritation. She huffed in her seat as she saw him going to his cabin. After unsettling me he wants notes!! Laad Governor!
Khushi knocked on his cabin after preparing the notes as he had asked. She heard a low "Come in" and opened the door. There was no sign of Arnav. The door closed as she left the handle and she felt the familiar hands holding her from behind giving a hug.
"This is what I wanted to do downstairs" he said lightly kissing her on cheek.
Khushi turned in his arms glaring at him.
"This is office Arnavji. And leave me, anyone can come here" she said half-heartedly, doing nothing to come out of his arms.
"Let them come. I don't care. There won't be a problem even if they get to know"
"But I don't want them to know"
Arnav took a step back hearing her. Was she still worried about everything? Did she not trust him enough? Obviously they've just started.
Khushi understood his emotions well. She knew what he must be thinking.
"Before you completely misunderstand my words, let me assure you it has nothing to do with my past. After talking to you it feels like a story from a long time ago" she said taking a step forward and placed her arms around his neck.
"Actually it feels so personal and I don't want to share it with anyone, not right now at least. Moreover won't it be romantic to meet without anyone knowing about us? It feels so much like movies"
"Khushi you are completely crazy, you know that?" he chuckled.
She pouted at him in mock anger.
"I was thinking about what you told me last night"
Khushi looked at him confusedly wondering what he was referring to.
"I'm planning to be selfish today"
"Oh that!" she smiled at him standing in his arms as his hands lazily rested on her waist, her hands on his chest.
"This time I'm going to be completely selfish and I won't stop before doing what I've wanted to do for so long. So this is your last chance to step back if you want to stop it from happening Sunshine" his voice turned husky with every word he said. His one hand moved upward coming to rest on her nape. Khushi could feel his heart thumping loudly under her palm matching rhythm of her own racing heart. His intense gaze burned in to her making her want to run away but at the same time his fast galloping heart glued her to the spot rendering her incapable of saying or doing anything. She knew this was the moment she ought to run away; knowing well that he won't ask her again. So she did what she deemed fit. Arnav saw her closing her eyes in surrender and invitation bringing him to action. His own eyes closed as his warm lips touched her soft ones. He felt a shiver running down in his body at the first intimate contact. He knew he wasn't alone in this, she felt the same way. Her lips reminded him of soft rose petals as he sucked on her lower lip. Her hands made their way in his thick hairs pulling him more to herself. In the back of his mind Arnav chanted to go slow, this being their first kiss. He moved his lips over hers softly yet firmly. Khushi unconsciously pressed her form to his removing all the distance between them. This snapped all the threads of self-control inside Arnav. His lips moved over hers in urgency; he ran his tongue on the seam of her lips. Khushi parted her lips and he tasted the sweetness of her mouth. He wondered if this was the taste of heavens he didn't believe in. Khushi matched his stroke with an equal stroke of hers. Their tongues mated, dueled, and fought pleasuring each other giving as much as they took. They parted breathing hard. Arnav rubbed his lips to the side of her face placing kisses in between. Khushi was grateful for his strong arms holding her otherwise she would have collapsed in the beginning itself. As their breathing turned to normal, Arnav cupped her face to look at her. Khushi closed her eyes feeling shy all of a sudden, the earlier bashfulness forgotten. With her smudged lip gloss, her disheveled hairs she looked thoroughly kissed. Arnav looked at her face with satisfaction. This shy, yet bold child-woman was his and the most important thing was that she trusted him with herself and was finally with him wholeheartedly.
"Khushi open your eyes" his voice was a whisper.
She shyly opened her eyes, slowly raising her eyes to meet his but as she remembered her own response to the kiss she hid her face in his chest hugging him. Arnav gingerly removed her arms from his back and pecked her soundly on her mouth. Khushi turned on her heels telling him she has work to do but he held her wrist pulling her back to him. He rubbed his thumb gently near the corner of her mouth making her lips quiver.
"Arnavji.."
"Sshh.. One minute"
Khushi saw him gently threading his fingers in her hairs.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm sure that you don't want the whole office to know that you've been ravished minutes before. I thought you said about keeping us a secret" he smiled tenderly as he finished what he was doing.
Khushi smiled in understanding. He was fixing her appearance while she had completely forgotten about it.
"Now go before I change my mood" he said turning her and pushing her gently.
"Woh notes.." Khushi gestured towards the papers she had placed on his desk before he had surprised her by hugging her from behind.
"I'll look in them"
Khushi went outside and Arnav turned lifting the notes she had left. He sensed something and turned back to find Khushi standing near him. He raised his eyebrows in question.
"Thanks" she said, when all she wanted to tell him was that she loved him, with a sweet smile and left him with a smile too.
"So how did he propose? How he declared his love?"
"He did no such thing" Khushi replied to her curious friend.
"What? Hasn't ASR told you the three most important words?"
Khushi distanced her phone from his ear as Lavanya's loud voice came from the other end.
"Arnavji is different. He doesn't believe in love and all that"
"And still you're with him? I mean it has been more than a week"
"Yeah, so what? He may not say it out loud but his every action speaks for him"
"Khush baby you've changed. I must say that you've grown up in love"
"When are you coming to Delhi?"
"May be next week"
"See you soon La"
Khushi smiled knowing that they would meet soon. If not for her, she had no idea how it would have turned up with Arnav. Lavanya didn't tell her what to do with the situation but had silently supported her, motivated her to take the chance. La had always been like this. Strong, lively, patient and understanding.
"Sunshine this secrecy is the most pathetic idea that you could have come up with" Arnav whined like a child on phone. It was weekend and it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to stay away from Khushi.
"It's not pathetic"
"It is. Now thanks to you we can't meet at your place because your nosy neighbors can get suspicious and you don't even want to go out for coffee"
"Arnavji we go out daily. I want my weekend to be relaxing"
"Fine then come here at my home. I don't have intruding neighbors at least"
He heard her laughing loudly.
"What is so funny about it Ms. Gupta"
"Yeah I'll come at your place and let's see how you are going to dodge Naniji's questions"
"I can say we have some work"
"Do you think she will buy this excuse every weekend? You used the same excuse last week"
"Damn your secret mission Khushi"
"Tch tch.. Mr. Raizada is out of ideas"
"Very funny"
"Wait.. Get ready. I'm coming" he added after a minute.
"I'm not going to let you enter my home"
"I'm coming to pick you up. Now just get ready" with that the line went dead. Khushi huffed in annoyance. She is going to strangle him if he is planning to take her to some fancy restaurant once again.
Around half an hour later Khushi heard the doorbell ringing. She took the shaded scarf to match with her deep purple skirt and plain blue top.
"Where are we going?" she asked as soon as she opened the door. Arnav stepped inside without answering her question.
"I told you we are not staying at my place"
He placed his mouth on hers stopping her from saying anything more. They parted after sometime, their chests heaving.
"You look beautiful" Arnav said placing his forehead against hers.
"Let's go before you delay more" he said pulling her hand.
"I'm delaying you. Who was the one grabbing me minutes before?" she huffed.
"It's not my mistake if you're looking so lovely"
"You say that daily"
"That means you intentionally dress up like this every day to provoke me. You can't blame me if I find you irresistible"
"I am dressing like this from the very beginning, much before we started seeing each other"
"And who told you I didn't feel like kissing you senseless before Sunshine?" he replied in his husky voice holding her captive with his words and arms. His words and its implication making her take a sharp breath.
"You are incorrigible" she said breaking away from him after few moments.
"Where are we going?" she asked not for the first time as he kept driving. She knew the road. It led to the coffee shop near the office and one of the restaurants they had dined in during the last week. Yes, she had praised it and loved the food too but she didn't want to go there now. She wanted to do something different from usual. This man is so boring. He can't even plan a surprise for me. But when he speaks to you, you forget all about the boredom, her other inner voice supplied much to her disliking.
"Why are you not answering me?" she pouted making him smile.
"Not to that restaurant. I guess this is enough for you"
Enough!! Off course, he is taking me to his favorite caf once again to have his favorite coffee. Arnav saw her mumbling incoherently but he kept driving till they reached their destination.
He opened the door as Khushi looked quizzically around. It was not the caf. In fact it was not a caf or a restaurant. The land in front of her was definitely a private property. She looked around to find they were exactly on the rear side of AR HQ. Is he planning to show me a back door entry to office?
"Arnavji office is on the other side" she voiced the obvious.
"We are not going to office Khushi"
"So what are we doing here? What is it?"
"I wanted to show you this, this garden"
Khushi wanted to pull his leg at the statement. Was he really planning to take her to some garden, introducing her to his gardening skills? But there was something in his voice and the way he looked at her, so soulfully that she knew whatever it was it wasn't some regular stuff he kept her telling and it was important for him. If it was important for Arnav, Khushi knew it was important for her as well. She took his palm in hers squeezing it lightly.
"Let's go" she said walking towards the small wooden gate.
As she entered she was greeted by a colorful sight of flowers blooming in different colors. There were sunflower, jasmines, dahlias, roses and various others whose name Khushi hardly knew. The red roses in the centre attracted her instantly and she walked over to them, touching them softly, bending down to inhale its fragrance.
"Red Roses were Maa's favorite" She straightened to look at Arnav who was looking at the roses in a trance. Although they used to talk about their personal life but Arnav always shared incidents about his college life never mentioning about his parents. She had often wondered about it but never brought up the subject knowing well his difficulty with handling emotions. She knew that like her, his parents were no more and she never tried to pry more than he told her.
"You called her Maa?" Khushi asked to know more about his life.
Arnav nodded looking at her giving a small smile. He sat down on the bench in front of the roses and Khushi followed the clue.
"Maa had brought us here during our first vacations in Delhi. She loved gardening and I picked that from her. I feel closest to her here, in her garden among her favorite roses" Khushi kept quiet other than caressing his palm to let him continue.
"That day when I fought with you I was here. I often come here whenever I want to be alone, to find some solace. Nobody knows about it, not even Di. I just thought you should know about this place" he shrugged his shoulders unable to tell her how important it was for him. He didn't know why he wanted Khushi to see this place but this was the only way he could think of connecting her with his mother. He wanted her to get glimpse of the Chhotey he had been with his mother.
"Is this the reason you rejected the idea of shifting office to the new location?"
He was surprised but thought who else could have concluded it than Khushi. She understood him better than he understood himself. "I feel close to her here. This is the reason I bought the adjacent land for AR in the first place"
"How were you as a kid?"
Arnav laughed thinking about the old days. "I was much like I am today, Akdoo and short-tempered as you would say. But nobody called me Rakshas back then" They both laughed.
"So what did they call you other than Chhotey?" Khushi asked naughtily.
"Maa always used to tell me to control my anger. But she still loved me with all my tantrums" he said shaking his head remembering the lovely lady his mother had always been.
"Maa must be very sweet. I wish I could have met her" she placed her head lightly on his shoulder, threadign her fingers in his. Arnav looked at the top of her head savoring the feeling of her addressing his mother as Maa. When he thought about it, it didn't feel strange. Obviously only his Khushi could do this. She has made a bond with everyone in his family. Be it Nani or his Di. Her words brought him out of his thoughts.
"Arnavji how did Maa die? Don't tell me if you don't want to, I won't ask again, promise" she asked adding the last sentence as an afterthought, not wanting to push him.
"I was fourteen year old when she died. Everyone says she committed suicide but I know better. It was a murder. My father's infidelity drove her helpless and heartbroken to the point that she didn't care about anything else. She died in front of me Khushi and I couldn't save her. I failed her" His eyes were bright with unshed tears.
Khushi engulfed him in a tight hug, her heart breaking for him. How much he must be hurting going through all this? How he would have handled himself at that time, how tough it would have been for him!
"That's why I don't believe in love and all these social rituals of marriage. It's all namesake. It can't keep two people together. People still cheat hurting the innocents in the process" She could feel his tears soaking in her cotton top as her own eyes welled up and cried for his loss. They held on to each other as they let the pain flow with their tears.
After being silent for some time Arnav broke the silence and shared his life after the incident. Khushi felt unbound anger towards his Uncle who threw them out of their own home, not thinking where they will go. She felt proud learning how hard he had worked to get to the position he was at currently.
"Khushi promise me tum mujhe chod ke kabhi nahi jaogi. Main tumhare bina jee nahi paoonga" His plea undid something inside her. She felt the urge to protect him, to protect the kid he once was.
"Never! I won't leave you even if you try to get away from me" she smiled cheerily breaking the dullness of the air. He felt darkness of the past ebbing away as she tried to cheer him.
"That day would never come. Although I'm afraid you'll be the one running away like usual" he smirked trying to tease her for all the time she denied having any feelings for him.
"Tch tch.. Too bad Mr. Raizada. I'm sure you're going to be disappointed" she replied saucily as she stood in front of him bending over placing her elbow over his shoulder.
"This is one disappointment I'm not going to mind at all" he winked pulling her making her land unceremoniously on his lap. His lips fastened over hers tenderly making her feel like she was the most precious thing in this universe. The kiss was short; it ended as soon as it started. The one lovers use when overwhelmed. They gazed in each other's eyes finding what they were looking for.
Today Khushi knew that Arnav may say he doesn't believe in love and relationships but the truth is completely opposite. He is the one who is fiercely loyal and protective for everyone he considers his own. She was lucky to have found him. Yes, he may never say those three words to her in his life but she was sure that he would show her the same in his every act. Is it so necessary to give a name to what they have between them, to give a name to the bond they share? She didn't feel so. All that mattered was she was with him, in his arms with their breaths inter-mingling. Khushi looked in his warm caramel eyes, the open window to his soul, which at the moment held immense love for her. She leaned forward placing her mouth on his. Arnav did nothing for a second, surprised with her initiation but matched her rhythm after a moment. The free abandon with which she kissed him egged him forward. His hands moved roughly over her body not getting enough. The desire to feel her skin was potent as his hand made its way under the top. Khushi plastered herself to him, their kiss becoming wild and urgent with every stroke. They didn't know how long their mouths mated, breaking apart only when the need of air became necessary. Arnav looked at Khushi searching her face for any sign of discomfort, regret or anger what with his hand still under her top. He only found his own eyes mirrored in hers. She didn't feel shy; she felt strangely warm with his hand moving over her waist in slow tantalizing circles. She neither knew nor cared how she ended up sitting cross-legged in his lap. Khushi quickly pecked his lips once again before hugging him tightly. As his arms came around her, she felt like coming home with their hearts thundering in their chest. Khushi thanked her stars for sending Arnav in her life. She knew their parents would be watching over them bestowing them with their blessings. In each other arms Arnav and Khushi knew in their hearts that it wasn't the end but a beginning of something new and beautiful in their lives.
A/N: Yes this update was the last chapter. Epilogue will be there. But it won't be posted before two weeks. Asli Duniya as I told you before is still hectic.
Wish you all a very Happy & Colorful Holi. Stay safe!
And now please leave your invaluable words for me to know what you felt were the good and bad things about this update.
Edited by aquagal - 11 years ago
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