ArHi SS: Captured Together...Hijacked In A Bus!*Completed**

Page

Next Last

Anne

@Anne_ArHi

Explorer

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

THIS IS A "MEMBERS ONLY" POST
The Author of this post have chosen to restrict the content of this Post to members only.

Quote

Frequent Posters

Anne

@Anne_ArHi

Explorer

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

THIS IS A "MEMBERS ONLY" POST
The Author of this post have chosen to restrict the content of this Post to members only.

162

Quote

Looks like you are new here. Register for free, learn and contribute.

Anne

@Anne_ArHi

Explorer

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

Arnav sat silently, unable to believe that he was actually in such a circumstance as he was right then. Never had he imagined in his wildest nightmare that his car would break down in the middle of nowhere and he would be in a hijacked to an unknown destination with his a year old employee. And to his horror, he was actually enjoying her company when her antics had irked him in the past year. And he didn't seem to care that he may not be free, afterall.

His confusing thoughts were brought to a sudden stop when he felt a soft pressure on his left shoulder. He turned to find Khushi's head resting on his shoulder at an awkward angle. He positioned himself on his seat and held her by her waist, cuddling her into his chest. An unfamiliar warmth spread itself around his heart as she snuggled into the crook of his neck.

As he continued to stare at her face tenderly which confused his brains, he found a strand of her hair disturb her sleep by tickling her face. And as if on their own accord, his fingers moved that irritating strand behind her ears, caressing her cheeks softly in the way. A smile made its way on his face when he saw her smiling in her sleep, a response to his touch.

Hours later the hot afternoon sun finally managed to make a warily perspiring Arnav, miserable. The layers above of his body with a thick blazer added to his misery. He looked down at her sweaty face as sun rays hit her face through the window directly. But he felt helpless for not being able to get out of those layers lest he wake her slumber.

Her left arm was wrapped around his waist while her head rested perfectly on his chest. He sighed once again before wiping another set of the sweat on his forehead. Minutes later, he found her pout uncomfortably before her eyes began to flutter.

He saw her eyes open slightly and anticipation of her reaction consumed his senses immediately. He found her look at him with her doe shaped eyes drowsed with sleep.

"Open your blazer! It's so hot in here." Khushi almost ordered as she whined at him with a frown.

Whatever he had expected from her, this was most certainly not in the list. As he continued to stare her, too shocked to react, she moved closer to remove his blazer from his body. And it was only after she had begun to open the buttons of his waistcoat after removing the blazer, did she realize what she was doing. Scandalised, she immediately brought her hands to herself as she moved closer to the window.

"Khushi." She heard her name being called out in that husky voice of his and sighed before turning to look in his direction.

"I'm sorry. I really am. I didn't realize what I was doing. I'm totally crazy. I'm- " Khushi went on apologising without meeting his eyes even for a moment.

"At least, you agreed you're crazy." Her eyes widened to find his amused ones. The shock to hear her arrogant boss crack a joke, even if a lame one at that, was too shocking for sure.

"Hey! It's okay. We're friends now, right?" Arnav smiled at her who seemed to have turned into a statue. Arnav sighed when he saw her not even blink back her eyelids.

"You crazy girl? You can blink, I'll not murder you for that." His assurance certainly brought her out of her reverie.

"Say again?" Khushi asked, unable to process his words.

"Now that we've a long way to go, why don't we become friends?" He suggested uncomfortably, yet again.

But immediately shrugged it off when he was rewarded with her bright smile. And once again, that irritating strand of hair decided to block his view of her face. Before she could so much as move, his fingers had already done their destined job.

As he continued to stare back at her dazed eyes, his palm had cupped her cheek after placing that lone strand behind her ears. It was at that moment that a loud wail broke their reverie. Turning back, he saw a cute little three year old boy crying while his mother tried to calm the child.

But before he could react, he saw Khushi turn around and make faces to the kid who had stopped crying alright. And he couldn't help hide a huge grin that crept his face. He realized one thing for sure, he was stuck with a really crazy girl.

"Why is he crying?" He found himself ask the boy's mother, who once again had introduced herself to be Preeto, and three pairs of large eyes turned his way.

"He is hungry, I guess." Preeto replied back and realization seemed to have dawned on him all of a sudden.

Turning around, he gently pulled back his blazer from Khushi's lap while he felt her embarrassed stares on him. Smiling to himself at her state, he began searching for a packet of wafer from his pockets. Finding it finally, he passed it to the little kid who began munching on it loudly.

"Are you better little guy?" Arnav asked the kid who had almost gobbled down half the entire wafer. And in answer, the kid simply stared back at him smiling.

Smiling to himself, he turned around to look at his pretty employee who was staring back at him, even without blinking.

"Back to earth, Khushi." He waved his palm in front of her face as he called out to her but she only pouted and muttered a ''I'm hungry too'' to him.

"Sorry Khushi, I don't have more food." He heard her sigh at his reply. He was hungry as well but what could be done. He hoped that Shyaam provided at least some food to them. People around them seemed really hungry and Khushi even more so.

He saw her pout more and more, grumbling to herself as she wrapped her arms around her stomach. And he really felt helpless like never before. But before he could muse more on the matter, he heard the same kid sitting behind him call out in his own way to Khushi.

As they turned around once again, the kid passed his half eaten wafer to Khushi. Arnav saw her first break into a huge smile before shaking her negatively.

"It will not help me dear, but you will have your fill. So, finish it off quickly." Khushi said before pushing the rest of the wafer into his mouth who gulped it down, nodding.

All this while, Khushi saw Preeto leaning against the seat with her eyes closed, her face twitching with pain. Placing her hand above hers, she gently asked her if she was alright.

"I'm feeling a bit dizzy. Khushi, can you please keep Arav for sometime?" Preeto requested and Khushi brought Aarav to her lap from the backseat while Preeto closed her eyes for a peaceful nap.

"So your name is Arav, little guy?" Arnav asked, eying him sit happily on Khushi's lap who nodded in reply.

"Why is there not a single vehicle on the road?" Khushi asked Arnav as realization of the trauma had struck her with Preeto's illness.

"Today is a strike, Khushi. And also, we are travelling between the forest here. I just don't understand how my car just broke down. Looks like, Shyaam had it all planned for today." Arnav replied her in a lost brooding tone.

"Oh Arnav! What are we all going to do?" Khushi asked in worry as she placed her head gently on his shoulder slightly. Meanwhile, Aarav climbed up to Arnav's lap and continued to stare at Khushi's crestfallen frantic face.

"It will be alright, Khushi. We've no other option but to wait." He tried to assure her staring at Aarav but when she gave no response, he muttered a low, "You're scaring the kid, Khushi!".

Khushi immediately sat straight, blushing crimson with embarrassment at how easily she had taken his shoulder for support. But then her gaze landed on Aarav who indeed looked scared. Sighing, she tried to take him in her arms but he refused to as much as bulge, holding on to Arnav tightly.

"What the...?" Khushi exclaimed loudly at the situation while Arnav glared at her.

"Behave Khushi. He is just a kid. And may be he likes me more than you." Arnav added mischieviously in his husky baritone which made her pout at the two of them before she turned to look out of the window.

She felt tiny fingers hold on her palm and a slow smile spread itself on her face, though she didn't turn around to face the two of them. After almost half an hour later she turned to look at both of them suspiciously only to be greeted by a sight, she was not going to forget for a really long time.

Arav slept flat on Arnav's chest, his tiny frame on his broad muscular one but his fingers had held on to her palm from that time. Her eyes moved up to meet the smiling eyes of the bearer of the masculine body and when she did, she could not help resting her head on his frame for the third time that day.

It felt perfect. But yet in the back of her head, fear had consumed her thoughts. Because soon, it would all be over. A frustrated sigh left her lips while her relaxed body once again tensed up.

"What happened?" He questioned, sensing her discomfort while his fingers played with her hairs at the back of her head in a caress, his other arm resting around Aarav in support.

"We're not going for a picnic, Arnav. We'll possibly be dead by tomorrow. I don't know how my family will take this." Khushi replied back and realization of the depth of the situation struck him for the second time that hour.

"You really think they will kill us? I don't think they will take the pain to kill so many of us." Arnav answered himself for her, only to find someone interrupt their conversation.

"You're most certainly right, Mr.Raizada. The Govt., Boards and the AR will be on their knees when they find that the great ASR is my guest of honor." Shyaam spoke sarcastically with a scary smirk.

"Go scare someone else. I know you can't do anything to me." Arnav ordered him dismissively, insulting him alright.

Khushi gulped down her fear and held onto his arms when she saw Shyaam turn red with fury. As Arnav continued to ignore Shyaam and passed her an assuring smile, Shyaam took out his phone. Keeping it in loud speaker, he ordered his men to make Anjali Raizada talk.

As soon as Arnav heard his sister's voice, every single hair in his body stood straight with fright and alarm as Khushi grasped with horror. She brought back a sleeping Aarav from Arnav's arms and passed him to his mother who seemed too scared to see Shyaam there.

"When you walked into this bus yourself, you thought it was only an accident. How wrong you were? Your brain could not so much as register my play, how sad. Isn't it?" Shyaam questioned a shocked Arnav sarcastically, who was holding his collar in his fist the next second, jumping up from his seat.

"Don't you dare do anything to my sister? Or else I'll bury you alive, you know that." Arnav warned.

"I know how much you love your sister. Don't worry, I'll not hurt her but for that you've to do something for me." Shyaam spoke devilishly.

"What?" Arnav asked impatiently, fear evident in his eyes. And Khushi closed her eyes at his vulnerability. She hated to see him that way, for some unknown reason.

"I'll let you know once we reach there." Shyaam answered and moved to his seat before turning back with a sick smile on his face, "Till then, she is safe."

Worry lines formed on her forehead as Arnav plopped down next to her in exhaustion. Few minutes earlier, he had felt so carefree and light and now dread and fear of what was to come held his entire being.

Arnav hoped against hope that his sister was alright. And that was when he felt her

squeeze his arm in assurance.

"I know Anjali is safe." Khushi spoke only to earn a frown on his face in irritation, yet she continued, "She is not as delicate as you treat her. For she is one of the strongest person I've met in my life."

Arnav looked at her in confusion, "You know my sister?"

"We were in the same class in college." Khushi answered him with a faraway look, "And I know all about you being called 'chotte' as well."

"You're kidding me?" Arnav asked yet again in embarrassment and confusion.

"I would not dare. And I know my best friend is not a coward. She will be safe, don't worry so much." Khushi tried her best to assure him even as her heart was so near to a breakdown due to fear. She just wished her words were proved true.

All her musings came to halt when Arnav threw himself in her arms. His strong masculine arms went around her waist gently as he rested his head on her chest. "Oh! Khushi. I'm so scared. She is the only one I've with me after Mom and Dad. You know they left us when..."

"I know, Arnav. I know." And her fingers slowly begun to stroke his back and then caressed his hairs, soothing them in the process as he buried his head deeper into the crook of her neck.

Khushi looked down at his sleeping face as the setting sun cast a magical glow around them. He looked so serene and calm yet there was a restlessness in his form for a reason. And she knew the reason, alright.

Though the fear of the circumstance lay before her, she could not somehow stop her forlorn heart from beating faster for the man who slept wrapped around her. His face rested on her chest, his parted lips caressing her bare skin to flush as his hands still held her waist gently. She smiled at his form again before continuing to stroke his hairs, her mind filled with many pent up thoughts.

She claimed, even to herself that she hated her boss, this man in her arms, but deep down she knew that it was not so. She had felt that realization dawning on her as the sun begun to set for the day.

All those times she had spent with Anjali with her speaking about her brother had somehow made a difference. With a little hesitation, she admitted that she had somehow grown used to him. May it be his growling anger, arrogant attitude, admiring persona, smart businessman tactics, a caring boss, a loving brother or a broken son. She had deep down accepted him, just the way he was and she liked him that way.

The shivers and sparks that ran down her spine when he tucked her bangs behind her ears, when he made sure she reached home safely every night after work, when he always held her safe in his arms every time she stumbled, when he came to meet her after knowing that she was unwell shocking her parents and most of all at a time like this when he always turned to her for support.

All this could mean just one thing and it was the simple fact that she was in love.

With the Man in her arms.

I hope the delay in the update was worth it!

Edited by Anne_ArHi - 11 years ago

122

Quote

Anne

@Anne_ArHi

Explorer

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

The bus screeched to stop at its destination causing a sudden jerk for the passengers inside. His sleeping figure was pushed forward but she caught him in her arms safely. Arnav sighed as held onto her tightly. He just didn't want to reach just yet, maybe because he was scared as what lay before him to save his sister or he was not ready to let go of her, his Khushi.

He didn't know from where that second thought came from, but he had no time to think of it as the pretty girl of his thoughts called out to him.

"Arnav! We need to get down." There, she called him by his name the second time that day and for some unknown reason it felt so right to him. He sighed before letting her go and sitting straight in his seat. He looked at her to find her looking somewhere behind him and he automatically looked back.

A pregnant woman with her visible bump walked out of the bus slowly with the help of her husband, the tension visible on their faces. They could see hungry children crying and their respective mother's helpless faces. They could see a husband worried to go back home to his family, a woman to be safe. The older people looked weaker by the end of the journey. Every single passenger looked disheveled and worried to somehow reach out to their loved one's, for just one time.

Arnav looked back at Khushi once again before standing up with a spark of determination in his eyes. He bent slightly to hold her hand in his assuringly before pulling her up to make her stand.

"I promise you, Khushi! I'll make it all, right. No one will be hurt." He said but before she could comprehend a thing, she was pulled out of the bus by him after a day's journey in a hijacked bus with her boss whom she had grown to love.

They found themselves between trees and trees there were. Nothing else. They had been brought to the deeper section of the forest area with a huge old palatial house in the middle of it. The place where they were standing was covered by thorny wires of steel which Shyaam had warned would send high volts of electric shock if touched while trying to escape, though one would never find their way out of this forest.

Arnav found people stretching out after the long tiring travel and even her, through the corners of his eyes. Despite the agony of the situation, he could not stop himself from admiring her. She looked extraordinarily beautiful as the golden rays of the already set sun peeped out from between the tall trees to reach her face. Though she looked exhausted like others yet he could feel a glow emitting from her being which captivated his entire attention.

He was lost in her surreal beauty and his intense stares made her look up at him. Goosebumps spread through every single fibre of her body, causing her heart beat faster like always. To her, everything felt different. Maybe, the sudden realization of falling with the most unexpected person in most dire situation hadn't helped matters at all.

"What happened to us, Arnav? How come you're no more shouting at me?" Khushi whispered to him, bringing him back from his trance.

"I was just pissed off at you in the morning for not showing up at the office on time. It's not that I always shout at you." Arnav answered back with an expression she could not understand.

"Oh thats why you had ordered that Lavanya to shout at me." Each word that Khushi spoke was laden with sarcasm. And Arnav couldn't help chuckle at her cute expression of hurt.

"You should have known till now Khushi, I would never humiliate you in front of anyone, forget about Lavanya." Arnav spoke with such a soft tone that she was left speechless. She failed to understand how could a man be so arrogant and valiant, one moment and then be so soft and vulnerable the next second.

Arnav shook his head at her dazed form before pulling her with him to a nearby tree and sitting down below at the green grass with her, a little away from others.

"Looks like no one wants to go inside the house where Shyaam has." Khushi spoke out of the blue.

"This place is much better than that broken house. I'm sure Shyaam must be arranging for some connection in this area to blackmail me through Anjali." Arnav agreed to her statement with real vigour and rage.

"And some food. Everybody must be hungry." Khushi completed his statement, trying to ignore the feeling of panic which she felt when she thought about what Anjali might be going through. He found her eying the pregnant lady and her husband from time to time and then at Aarav who was sitting with his mother in another corner.

"It's okay, Khushi. Relax!" Arnav tried to assure her when his own heart was running the race of panic and dread for his sister.

"I know you will save us all, Arnav." Khushi voiced as her fingers moved to brush with his and all he could do at that moment was to hold her hand in his, tight. And then a companionable silence surrounded them which did comfort them, unusually.

It was much later after the sun had set behind and the moon had come to greet them, that Khushi got up from her position while he reluctantly let go of her hand. A feeling of emptiness spreading through him out of nowhere.

"I'll be back in a minute. Don't worry about me now." Khushi stated as if she had read his mind in her own weird way, making Arnav to look away from her and retaliate with a crisp, "I wasn't."

Khushi smiled at him, shaking her head at his behaviour before walking away.

VII

Khushi walked up to the pregnant lady and her husband who introduced themselves to be Payal and Akash. She found herself already liking the couple who were expecting their first child in the two months time. She came to know that they were on their way back after a regular check up in the hospital, to their home.

"Payal, I think you should go inside and rest. I'll ask Arnav to go talk to Shyaam. It's dark already and not good for you at this state." Khushi voiced out, concerned.

"Even I agree with Khushi. Come, we will go inside the house with the others." Saying so, Akash slowly held a nodding Payal before they began walking towards the broken villa, slowly with many others.

As Khushi turned to go and talk with Arnav about the matter, what she saw made her almost boil with an anger that she thought she would burn any second with the kind of rage she was feeling which was surely tinted with jealousy.

And she was in every mind to burn that scarcely dressed girl who was sitting at the place where she was minutes before, almost on her Arnav. Just as she was about to make a move towards the duo sitting in the dark corners, under the tree, a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Hi!" Khushi turned around to find the bearer of the male baritone who greeted her.

"Hello. I'm Khushi." She smiled politely and shook hands with him.

"I know your name.", he giggled funnily but continued when he saw her confused expression, "Didn't your famous and rich Boss shout at you for spoiling his day?"

"He certainly did." Khushi laughed with the thought of how in a matter of few hours, their equation had changed drastically.

There were no pretense to hate the other. From fighting to realizing her love, though she was not sure of his feelings for her, now that he was sitting with that stupid girl. She turned to eye them when she was interrupted by the same voice, yet again.

"By the way, I'm NK!" He intoduced himself.

"Nice to meet you, NK. What do you..." Her question to NK was left hanging midway

when she heard Arnav's crisp and tight "Miss, Gupta".

Excusing herself from NK who went to talk with others, she walked up to Arnav in confusion and anger. What had made him call out to her that way with her surname? She didn't know. It was she who was supposed to be angry on him and not the other way round.

"Here we are struck in the middle of something crazy and dangerous but you don't care. Chatting and making friends when my sister and your so-called best friend is in danger. This is all very funny for you, isn't it?" Arnav spoke with a low voice which was only audible to her but the tone with which he spoke hurt her to no end. He pulled her closer by holding her arms tightly in his, questioning her teary figure again and again before she pushed him so hard that he was thrown back in shock.

"No its not. Nothing is funny. But what you want me to do?" She pushed him again on his chest before continuing, "Answer me?" She looked up at him with hurt as tears rolled down her cheeks,"You want me to sit and cry. Then, congrats Mr.Raiada, you got what you wanted. Now go and make friends with that girl who had no intentions to be just friends with you." Saying so and passing him a sad smile, she turned around to leave before he held her arms gently stopping her in her tracks.

"I didn't mean it, Khushi. Look, I'm really sorry." Arnav said only to find a furious Khushi look back at him.

"Why say something which you don't mean? And yes, I don't care that my Mom would be crying miserably, my Dad would be worried sick, my sister would be calling all my friends to know where I'm and my best friend, that is your sister would be fighting all means to escape. I don't care that you've had no food the whole day while you're diabetic, all the children are hungry and the old aunty there has fainted with worry."

As Khushi finished venting out all her worries to him, the entire atmosphere fell silent.

People had gathered around them while Khushi sat down sobbing to herself. Not giving a hoot to anyone around them, Arnav bent down in front of her pulling her closer.

"No. Stay away." Khushi pushed his hand away.

"Khushi." Her name came out a plea from his lips.

"Don't say my name like that. Miss.Gupta it was, isn't it?" Khushi said angrily as his arms pulled her in an embrace.

"I'm sorry, Khushi. I was just worried." Arnav regretted saying those words to her.

The burn of jealousy had done its job perfectly in his heart giving way to anger, of course. He knew he should have remained calm when he saw the vision of NK and Khushi smiling, that would have stopped him from speaking what he hadn't meant. And on top of that, Khushi's so-called scarcely dressed girl, who introduced herself as Sheetal irked him about her modelling career at AR.

Khushi tried pushing him away but Arnav held onto her tightly.

"Forgive him, girl. He certainly loves you a lot." The old lady who had fainted few minutes before spoke out to her.

Khushi smiled through her tears as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She had made the great Arnav Singh Raizada come down on his knees for her and he didn't seem mind it afterall. She wrapped her arms tightly around his back, forgiving him with a smile. But no one noticed the slacking of his arms around her as the words registered in his brain.

Love.

He was in love? With Khushi?

He didn't know.

VIII

"Lovers reunion after a fight. How romantic, isn't it?" Shyaam's words cut through the loud cheers as fear made its way.

Arnav pulled away from Khushi before standing up. Holding her hand in his, he stood in front of her. Khushi felt warmth spread through every single fibre in her body. She knew she was falling in love with him a little more, every next second.

"Forgot about Anjali? Come on, Mr.Raizada, get inside the cottage next to the villa. Others go in, the food is being served. Its important for me to keep you all alive." Shyaam said with a sly smile in his face before getting inside.

Arnav turned back to her and others, "Don't worry. I'll make sure that each one of you will reach back home safely.".

As Arnav walked in, all he felt was the loss of warmth when her hand fell back from his, the second time that day and her helpless stare on his back. He knew he had to do it, for her. But what he didn't know was how he would, without her.

I'm really sorry for being late yet again. I was down with fever and slept for the last two days, literally. Don't be so mad at me, friends.

The next update will not be within the next 24 hours 'cause I'll be travelling this week. But I'll update in the middle of the week, alright.

Though I've finished writing the entire story, I still got to edit it before posting. So, it takes some time.

Today is Arshix144 aka Mini's birthday.

Happy Birthday To You dear!

May you have a rocking year ahead...

Your comments of have made my update worth it. You've been a true inspiration. Thank you for being my buddy.

This update is dedicated to you on your birthday.

I hope the update was good enough.

Edited by Anne_ArHi - 11 years ago

107

Quote

Anne

@Anne_ArHi

Explorer

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

As he stood inside the small cottage which Shyaam had mentioned, he found a number of beeping machines and connections all around the only room. He was asked to sit down and he did before Shyaam did the same in front of him.

"Look Mr.Raizada, I want you to call AR office, ask them to extend the call to the headquaters. The commisioner is your good friend, isn't it?" Arnav nodded to Shyaam's question before he continued, "You ask him to let my friend, Mr. Rabi Singhania free if you want your sister alive.".

"Wasn't he arrested for murdering his wife?" Arnav asked calmly though a storm was brewing up inside him.

"Yes, he did. But he is a friend who helped me in jail to find out about my wife and I've given my word to help him when he helped me escape last night." Shyaam replied but Arnav could read out the clear conflict on his face.

"Coming out from the lips of the man who claimed to love his wife dearly at a time sounds strange to me." Arnav words hit the right spot because that made Shyaam give away for few seconds before controlling himself, checking on his expressions effectively.

"Looks like you don't want to meet your sister again." Shyaam warned and Arnav hated the effect that had on him.

"I'll do as you say.", he replied, "but before that I want to talk to Anjali."

Arnav saw Shyaam signal one of his men who then switched on a computer and the screen showed his sister, tied down to a chair with thick ropes, smiling back to him.

"Anjali? Are you alright?" Arnav almost jumped down his chair to see his dear sister.

"Don't do anything he says, I'm perfectly fine and will escape soon." Anjali's confident words reached him through the loud speakers around.

Arnav shook his negatively at his sister while Khushi's words echoed in his ears. His sister was a really brave girl and he felt proud of her.

"You will do no such thing. I'll get you out safely." Arnav assured her before the screen went blank.

"Seeing your sister reminds me of my late wife. She was beautiful and courageous but because of you and your commissioner friend, she is no more alive. If only, you had let me go that night instead of accusing me of robbery, this day would not have arrived." Shyaam said with both anger and pain.

"What are you saying Shyaam? Your wife is alive!", were the words coming from the doorway which belonged to a figure who stood there all this while, watching the entire scene with unfold with shock.

"Khushi?"Arnav exclaimed while Shyaam stood up with fury, both surprised at seeing her there.

"Is this some kind of plan you are making? How dare you Mr.Raizada? Why involve a woman in this?" Arnav looked at Shyaam's furious eyes and realized there had been a lot of misunderstandings.

"What do you mean by me being a woman? Here you are saying, your wife is dead when she is very much alive seems like a plan to me." Khushi accused with a such a tone that sent shivers of shock down the two men in the room, with her feminism spirits kicking in.

"She is alive?" Shyaam's broken whisper of a question made Khushi instantly melt and she really felt bad for the man.

"It's alright, Shyaam." Khushi tried to assure, coming closer when Shyaam suddenly got up with fury throwing the chair he was sitting on away with pure anger.

"Sit down, Shyaam. And listen me out." Arnav spoke with a calm and determined voice which somehow soothed the man in front of him. "Your wife is alive, trust me. I need you to sit down and talk to me, Shyaam."

"You won't understand it." Shyaam stated when he felt Arnav's fingers on his left shoulder in assurance.

"My mother. She died because she fell ill and my father could not afford to buy her medicines. I can never forget the pain and helplessness which I saw in my father's eyes that night. Broken for not being able to afford to my mother's aid, he died leaving behind Anjali to me." Arnav spoke because he wanted Shyaam to understand that not everyone was born rich.

As Shyaam continued to brood over all the facts that he had been given, a drop of tear rolled down Khushi's eyes as she heard him speak. She knew how difficult it must have been to open up in front of a stranger but he did.

Anjali had informed her of the same, but hearing it from his lips with all his pent up emotions made her feel nothing but proud of what he had made himself into.

Deciding to leave Arnav to deal with Shyaam and feeling suddenly helpless, she turned away from both the men. As she passed by him to reach the door, his fingers gently held on to hers. And just like that she knew that he wanted her and she was never going to leave him alone, ever.

"I thought Raizadas were always rich." Shyaam voiced out, confused.

Khushi turned around to face the broken man but held on to Arnav's palm from his fingers tightly as Arnav gave out a sarcastic laugh at Shyaam's comment.

There was one thing which Arnav saw in Shyaam's eyes that moment, the genuine respect for himself. He ignored Khushi's stare on him but he held on to her as tightly as she did.

"I can understand Shyaam what you went through when you found yourself unable to provide money for your wife's treatment." Arnav spoke after sometime of silence but it only made Khushi to point out something which both the men had ignored all this time in their emotions, "But you made the mistake when you tried to rob. You had to be punished for your crime."

Two pairs of eyes turned to her and she didn't know if she had spoken something which she shouldn't have. But Arnav's grip on her hand, assured her that she was not wrong here.

"What was I to do? I'd to save her at any cost." Shyaam questioned helplessly to her and Khushi was speechless at that.

"You could've asked me for help." Arnav answered only to make Shyaam look back at him, wide-eyed.

"You would have helped me?" Shyaam aked terrified of what the other man's answer would be. "You never asked.", was the reply.

"Where's my wife? Singhania told me she was dead." Arnav caught the eagerness in his eyes and he realized that now Shyaam had turned into a human from the beast that he had made himself into.

How true it was, he thought to himself, love could reduce anyone to anything. Khushi sighed when she realized that it would all be alright without anyone being hurt.

"After you were sent to jail, I found that you had an ailing wife. So, I took care of her treatment. Khushi has been visting her and taking care of her needs." Arnav informed but continued when he saw her eyeing Khushi, "She joined the month after you were taken away."

"Your wife has been waiting for you for long time now but not this way." Khushi smiled at Shyaam, sending him the message while Arnav nodded in affirmative.

"I'm really sorry, Mr.Raizada. I've been so.." Shyaam was cut off by the smiling male baritone who had managed to earn his respect. "It's ASR. Friends call me ASR."

And Khushi fell in love with him, all over again, for being who he was.

Khushi paced in front of the cottage waiting for him to come for more than half an hour now. She had come out to inform the others that everything was alright, Shyaam would let them free. Meanwhile, giving time to both the men inside to sort out all the formalities and future of their next move.

She breathed in relief when she saw him come out of the small cottage with Shyaam, minutes later.

"Arnav?" She called out to him and he could not control himself from walking upto her when Shyaam stopped him in his tracks.

"Why don't you say her?" Shyaam asked him with a comincal expression.

"What?" Arnav asked.

"That you love her. I'd seen that in your eyes when you were fighting with her for spoiling your day." Shyaam giggled at his horrified expression.

It seemed funny to him that the self made man who had made himself the owner of money worth billions at such a young age was actually scared to accept his love.

"You say that to your wife who is on her way to you now." Arnav commented back before turning to walk back briskly to a confused Khushi while Shyaam went inside the main house to check on everyone's food and apologize for his behaviour.

"What did Shyaam say you? I know he said something about me. He was pointing towards me." Khushi asked as soon as he was within hearing distance.

"Nothing." Arnav replied, not wanting to answer her question for the obvious reasons but when he saw her look at him with a curious expression, he could almost visualize her with a Nancy Drew hat on.

Taking her in his arms, he calmed down her brewing questions. It was because of her that he was able to make Shyaam see sense. It was her who had made him understand what life was all about and why love was stronger than both. And it was then that he felt a tug in his heart, not realizing what everyone around them had realized long back.

"How is Anjali? Did you talk to her again? Is she free now?" Khushi asked after some time, coming out of his warm embrace.

"Yeah, she is fine and the police team has made sure of that. And I talked to her and she says that her adventure ended too good for her own. She is crazy, may be that is why you both are best friends." Arnav answered her questions patiently, moving closer to her.

"Even we are friends! So does that mean, you are crazy as well?" Khushi retaliated back and Arnav almost chucked at her cheeky comment of them being friends, which he didn't just like at the moment ironically, he had been the one to ask her to be friends with him in the first place.

"That's true. You're making me crazy." Arnav replied back, the true meaning of his words seeping into him while Khushi frowned at him, complete aware. She walked away from him towards the house when her stomach gave a loud growl in hunger.

"You are making me crazy, Khushi. Making me feel everything that I've never felt before." Arnav whispered but panicked when he saw her stop in her tracks and turn around to face him.

"Did you say anything?" Khushi asked with a straight face and he nodded in denial. She had heard him alright, but what she didn't understand was why he had refused to acknowledge his words.

Instead of probing him with more questions, she murmured a small "Are you coming?" and he walked with her inside the old house.

"When will be home?" She asked as they entered the huge hall where food was being served to all.

"The forest is too dangerous at night. So, we will be starting early in the morning tomorrow. Shyaam is going to return our things back after food." Arnav answered while he picked up the tray full of food for his dinner with his pretty employee turned friend.

The next update will be the last one on Saturday.

Edited by Anne_ArHi - 11 years ago

102

Quote

Anne

@Anne_ArHi

Explorer

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

XI

"How are you feeling now, Payal?" Akash turned away from NK to look at his wife's smiling face.

"Don't worry about me, Khushi. I'm perfectly fine." Khushi nodded to Payal's answer as Akash and NK made their way towards them.

"Thank Godness for the food! My stomach was making weird and scary sounds, otherwise." NK exclaimed as he stood next to Khushi. Hearing his serious expression, the other three burst out laughing, earning the attention of other people cramped in the huge hall of the house.

Arnav tightened his fist as the uncomfortable sensation, yet again burned through his skin as he watched Khushi laughing away at something which NK had said. With all the strength that he had, he tried to control the burning rage he felt. He didn't know if what he felt was betrayal, jealous, possessive or pure anger.

"You don't have to feel this way, ASR" Arnav heard Shyaam say and turned around to face the man.

"What do you mean?" Arnav questioned, confused at Shyaam's unexpected words of advice to him.

"You know she loves you like she loves no one else. All you have to do is give up yourself to her and it would all be alright." Shyaam answered. Arnav gave a small nod to him before walking away to the one of the rooms to retire for the night.

There were many rooms in the old palatial house which could accommodate the passengers for the night. Shyaam and his men who were supposed to stay in the small cottage, had allocated clean rooms to the passengers. Out of which, Arnav was given one single room while the others had to share their rooms with another.

But Khushi found herself in a fix because she had to share her room with Sheetal who kept bugging her with personal questions regarding Arnav.

"I just said you that I don't know his favorite colour, Sheetal." Khushi repeated before turning to the other side to get some sleep after a very long day.

"But you work with him." Sheetal continued to argue.

"I do. But I never asked him, any problem in that?" Khushi questioned on the verge of irritation.

"Okay, tell me which kind of music does he like?" Sheetal asked, ignoring Khushi's red angry face.

Finally loosing all her patience, Khushi passed a long angry stare at Sheetal before walking out of their room. Walking through the huge hall, she sat on one of the stairs in the dimly lit porch staring ahead at the forest ahead. And that is how Arnav found her as he walked out of his room after his tired and tensed body got no sleep.

The thin veil of her red and white dress covering her front, it's edges flying in the wind along with her open hairs. As he made his way next to her, he felt her relaxed body tense and didn't know what to make of that reaction of hers. A small part of him made him aware of how she had been so relaxed with NK.

Ignoring every other thoughts in his brain, he followed the rhythm of his heart which was beating with a verge of sudden realization.

"You didn't sleep?" Arnav inquired as he sat down next to her.

"Even you didn't." Khushi stated, turning to face him in the most natural way. She was in no mind to let him know about Sheetal for some known feeling.

"We had a long day." Arnav continued the conversation while Khushi just nodded in agreement, smiling to herself as she recalled the their time together in the bus.

As silence spread between them, Arnav felt the tension of her proximity close to him like always. He didn't know when he would get over it in his entire lifetime.

Sighing slowly, he wondered how he had become a sensitive man from being a
ruthless boss to her. Maybe the way he felt for her had changed over the year, so slowly that he hadn't even realized it.

Khushi turned to look her brooding boss who seemed completely unaware of her stare on him. She wanted to tell him about the way she felt for him but what she didn't understand were his feelings for her. She didn't know if after returning back to their regular schedule after just a day's weird experience, everything will be back to normal.

It would all be just a distant memory, captured together.

XII

"Khushi, I think you are sleepy." Arnav called out to her eying her drowsy form and she nodded getting up with him when he offered her a walk to her room.

Climbing the stairs with him, she hoped that Sheetal would have gone to sleep already.

Reaching her room, she passed him a smile which was surprisingly returned. Calming down her racing heart with two mouthful of air, she peeped in through the slightly opened door of her room where she found Sheetal, well-awake checking her long manicured nails.

Quickly closing the door shut, she turned around to face a confused Arnav. Ignoring him, she walked back to the door but found herself stop when his long fingers grabbed her arms effectively.

"What's wrong?" She sighed when she heard Arnav's confused question to her. She didn't know how she would deal with his introspection now.

"I'm not sleepy again." Khushi's answer made Arnav pull her form closer to his.

"Don't lie." Arnav's crisp and angry words made her give up her lie.

"Sheetal won't let me sleep peacefully. So I'm waiting for her to fall asleep first." Khushi spoke truthfully and found him rub his temple thoughtfully.

"You can sleep in my room." He suggested and when he found her hesitate, he quickly added, "I'm staying outside."

Minutes later, Arnav found himself switching off the light switch next to his bed where Khushi laid staring at him with wide eyes. Shaking her head at her amusing reactions to his gestures, he turned to make his way out of the room when she held his palm in hers.

"You can sleep here as well. I've no problem." Khushi offered, which was refused by Arnav with a "I'm not sleepy."

As he tried to come out of her hold, she didn't let go. Pulling him closer, she made space for him to sleep beside her on the bed. And when she found him hesitate this time, she smiled muttering a "So much for being the great Arnav Singh Raizada.".

Arnav scowled at her as he lied down next to her and she realized that he had heared her, alright. With a pillow between them, she gave in to her sleep staring at his tensed face with a smile.

Hours later, in the middle of the night Arnav woke up from his deep slumber as the soft body of his bed mate smuggled closer to his form. With all intentions of pushing her form away to get some more sleep, he opened his eyes painfully only to find himself unable to blink.

Her hairs were spread all over his pillow while her face rested on the left side of his chest. Her left arm was wound around his waist while her legs were tangled with his. At that moment, he felt the kind of emotions he had never felt before. All he wanted was for the moment to cease at that point, nothing mattered to him anymore other than her with him.

Unable to control his emotions, he found himself push her form higher against his. Slightly ducking low, he pressed his lips against hers in the heat of the moment. But realizing the intensity of his folly, he quickly pulled back to find her drowsy eyes staring back at him.

"Khushi, I'm really sor-" The words which he had intended to let out were not allowed to do so by the one woman for whom they were targeted.

Arnav was left with complete disbelief as he found her lips against his once again that night. Unable to process a thing that was happening to him, he lied like a statue as he was being kissed thoroughly.

He felt her pull back, pouting and he wondered if his lack of participation had earned him that expression on her face. But before he could wonder on that, he found her question him.

"You know the real reason for not sleeping next to Sheetal?" He in turn cocked his eyebrow high in demand of an explanation.

"I felt jealous when she asked personal questions about you." Khushi answered herself aloud.

And this time, when he found her lips inch closer to his, he was in no mood to decline the sweet offer. His lips found hers, sucking her bottom lip while she took over his upper lip and thus began their battle for dominance. His form moved over hers as his tongue made its way inside her warm mouth, marking its territory inside her.

He pulled back to let her breath, only to find her groan with the lack of warmth he provided her. Smiling at her, his lips made their way down to her neck and then back to lips, trailing kisses all over her jaw. He felt her fingers which were playing with his soft hairs, pull his hairs slowly for dominance. He rolled over to have her entire length lie flush over him.

With their lips fused together, Arnav found himself fall into a deep slumber. The experience of the night captured in his memories forever.

XIII

Khushi opened her eyes slowly feeling all warm and fuzzy inside as her body vibrated with the moving of the bus. She found herself pressed against Arnav as he was busy looking out of the window.

"Good morning!" She wished him but what she didn't know was the effect her drowsy voice had on his senses giving him flashbacks of their last nights romance and making him wish to do the same again to her.

"Morning, Khushi." Arnav wished back, his voice filled with suppressed passion and desire. Taken aback by the way his eyes stared back at her, she came out of his warm embrace passing him a confused smile.

To her, he looked nothing like the man she knew. As the sun rose from behind the tall forest trees, she continued to stare back in his eyes searching for an answer to this new feeling that he felt.

"How did I come here?" Khushi asked suddenly which seemed to have made him aware of the world around him.

"Don't you remember anything that happened last night?" Arnav asked eying her puzzled look.

"I do remember. I slept in your room because of that Sheetal. Where is she?" She enquired turning around to find everyone, including Sheetal in their original positions as before in the bus.

"I know you are jealous of her." Arnav whispered in her ears and she jumped in her seat at that.

"How do you know? Will you tell me everything?" Khushi demanded glaring at his grinning face.

She felt the change in him. His tensed form from last night seemed very much relaxed. He looked like he knew everything that was happening. His answer to her agitation broke her reverie.

"As you refused to wake up, I'd to carry you to the bus. It's been hours now and we will reach soon." And when Khushi still glared at him, he simply laughed and added, "You confessed about your jealousy in your sleep."

Khushi turned away in embarrassment. She stole a glance at his smiling face and wondered what more had she blurted out in her drowsy self. Arnav found his smile broaden when he realized that Khushi didn't at all remember anything about their kissing spree in the middle of the night.

"I know there is something more to it that you are not telling me." Arnav found her unsatisfied and lowered his head to rest at the crook of her neck.

"I've your bag and other things. You can call your home once we come out of this area and reach the main road." Khushi felt Arnav's lips rub her bare neck as he spoke to her, making her close her eyes in pleasure. As she did so, images of Arnav kissing her neck in the middle of the night flooded before her eyes.

But before she could gather time to react, she heard a loud shriek of a shrill feminine voice from behind her.

XIV

"I was such a fool to hijack a bus." Shyaam regretted, hitting his head hard with his palm.

"Shyam, we need to reach a hospital soon before things go wrong." Arnav informed urgently.

"We've to take another route then. Will that be alright?" Shyaam questioned in alarm.

"Of course, Payal can deliver any moment now." Akash said coming up to them as Payal continued to writher in pain in the backseat.

As the bus moved with high speed, cutting through the trees to a nearby hospital for Payal's delivery, Khushi tried to stabilize her by rubbing her palms. Other passengers began worrying at the sudden emergency, trying to aid Payal.

Soon, the bus screeched to a stop in front of the nearby village hospital. Payal was taken out of the bus by Akash for service. After she was gone, everything fell silent. Arnav found Aarav seem a lot scared at the happenings while Khushi was biting her nails with worry stealing glances of him in every few seconds.

"I think we should move other passengers to the nearby lake, this place cannot accommodate so many of us." Shyaam suggested and Arnav nodded in affirmative.

"But what about Payal?" Khushi piped in from behind Arnav.

"Akash is with her and the Nainital lake isn't so far from here. I'll send my driver to bring them back."

He brought out his mobile and dialed away to his sister, informing her to come to the lake with Khushi's parents. Then he informed the commissioner of the change of plans and Shyaam's wife was asked to come over as well.

Hours later, the small ground in front of the Nainital lake was crowed with cars. A relative of every passenger had come to accommodate them.

NK went with his friends while Sheetal went away with her boyfriend much to Khushi's satisfaction and disgust. The old lady went away with her son and daughter-in-law. Preeto's husband had come over to pick her up and Aarav who promised to be in touch with Arnav and Khushi.

Khushi ran over to her parents as soon as they arrived with Anjali. Arnav took his sister in his arms, feeling relieved of her safety. Patting her head in affection, he enquired her about AR when Shyaam interrupted them.

"I'm sorry Anjali. My men abducted you while making sure to reduce ASR's fuel tank of his car. And in order to have him, I'd to put so many people's life in danger. You don't know how much I regret this decision of mine." Shyaam apologized.

"It's alright Shyaam. Your wife will be here in another few minutes." Anjali in her usual forgave the man easily, deep down hoping that her adventure had lasted longer.

Arnav turned around as he heard siren sounds. Soon, a teary eyed Shyaam met his wife. Khushi wiped few tear drops as she continued to watch Shyaam's reunion with his wife with a smile. She turned to stare at the man next to her who too seemed to be shaken at the scene before him.

Khushi opened her mouth to call out to Arnav when his phone rang. And she wished to be hijacked once again just so that his phone would be made to switch off. She watched him smile and keep the phone back into his pocket before turning to face her.

"Payal gave birth to a baby girl." Arnav informed her. Khushi jumped up in glee as she realized that there had been no complications in the delivery, given the situation in which Payal had been stuck.

"Let's go, Khushi." Khushi's mother called out and Khushi passed a worried look towards Arnav. She wanted to talk to him about her feelings and about last night before returning back to their schedule.

"Aunty, I need to talk to Khushi for some time." Khushi heard Arnav request and found Anjali beside her send mischievous smile her way. She blushed a deep red unconsiously as Arnav held her hand and brought her away from others.

XV

Khushi eyed the commissioner, Shyaam and his wife, Anjali, her parents and few remaining passengers who were smiling their way.

"Couldn't they just look away?" Khushi muttered to herself but Arnav bothered himself to answer her as he pulled her flush against him, "They don't have to, Khushi. It's not like we are doing anything that we did last night."

Khushi looked up at him wide eyed."Will you tell me what exactly happened last night?", she demanded.

"No, I would rather show you." Arnav answered and she grasped in surprise as Arnav brought his right arm from her waist and cupped her cheeks, angling her face in position as he inched closer. Khushi closed her eyes, savoring the feeling which she felt at the moment.

Seconds later when she opened her eyes in confusion at not feeling his lips on hers, she found him smile at her before going down on his knees. Holding her hand, his smiling orbs stared right into her astonished ones.

"This is not what happened last night." Arnav laughed out at her worried statement.

"You are right, Khushi. But I just wanted to say you something before showing what we did last night." Arnav spoke grinning wide and Khushi felt her heart thud as loud as never before. She had never seen this side of Arnav before.

Standing on the sandy bank of the shimmering lake, Khushi found her love on his knees proposing to her. She saw him take out a diamond ring which glistened as the sun rays hit it. Tears made its way down her face in happiness as an overwhelming feeling rushed through every single fiber of her body.

"Khushi, will you marry me?" Arnav anxious words to made the hairs at her back stand in shock. She hadn't imagined something close to what was happening so soon from Arnav and yet she was reeling in the moment.

"I cannot imagine another moment without you anymore, Khushi. Do you want to grow old with me as my wife and have children and grandchildren?" Arnav asked again, feeling slightly stupid as he eyed her tears flowing at an alarming rate. Maybe he looked weird talking this way.

"I love you, Khushi." Arnav finally spoke out hoping to earn some movement or some reaction other than the tears from her.

And he was successful because Khushi nearly jumped on him in the name of a hug. Arnav smiled when he fell with his back on the grassy bank.

"I love you too, Arnav." Khushi murmured in his ears, kissing his cheek loudly.

"You didn't kiss me on my cheeks last night."Arnav informed and Khushi pulled back to stare into his laughing face.

Deciding to wipe of the teasing smirk from his lips and mischievous laughter from his eyes, she pressed her lips against his, earning a grasp from him. Arnav cupped her cheeks, wiping away the tears as his tongue plunged inside her mouth.

As Khushi pulled back, Arnav stared at her in a daze. He found everyone around them looking away. He pulled her left palm and inserted the ring inside her thin finger.

"From where did you get this ring suddenly?" Khushi asked, staring at the ring lovingly.

"I asked Anjali to bring it." Arnav answered, making her look at him sharply.

"You planned all this, for me?" Khushi asked, overwhelmed and Arnav pecked her lips before nodding in agreement.

"You never said me what happened last night!" Khushi exclaimed, realizing suddenly.

"I've a lifetime to show you but I can give you a trailer now." Arnav said, getting up and pulling Khushi up with him as well.

He pulled Khushi behind a tree, away from Anjali's teasing gaze. Khushi blushed like never before as she saw his fingers entangle with hers and press against the trunk of the tree, her ring reflecting the light from the sun. His form pressed hers against the tree while his lips fused with hers.

That is how they were captured together...

THE END

I hope you all enjoyed the story. Special thanks to Mrinalini from being such an amazing reader and staying with me through this story in every single update.

Edited by Anne_ArHi - 11 years ago