ARSHI FF: Strings of Illusion (T8)CH47 - ON HOLD - NOTE: PG 35*** - Page 12

Arnav ran a frustrated hand through his already disheveled hair as he once again tried to go over the detailing his head designer had sent him, which for some reason was just not working out with the theme they had decided for their client

Nothing seemed to be going right the past few days after the wedding fiasco, that had made his brother into a real live devdas' and also strained his and Khushi's relationship a little bit

He closed his laptop with a dejected sigh, as his mind went back to the day after the wedding, when he met Khushi for the last time, in this same office.

5 days ago...

"Khushi" Arnav said as he walked inside his cabin to see her pacing around worriedly...she looked up at him and went into his waiting arms for a hug they both needed desperately

"How is Payal?" Arnav asked her with concern, after a few minutes as Khushi shook her head dejectedly "Not good Arnav...she is completely devastated" she said as she went and sat on the couch, with Arnav sitting beside her holding her hand

"I have never seen her like this; I mean, she always seemed like a tough girl you know...but last night, she was just so vulnerable" Khushi said as Arnav stroked her palm soothingly

"I don't even know why I'm so concerned about her, but I think its because, I can relate to her to some extent" Khushi said with down casted eyes, as Arnav looked at her questioningly

"My father Arnav...I have felt his betrayal, so right now what Payal feels..." Khushi started saying when Arnav interrupted her "Your father? Khushi are you seriously comparing your father to Akash?" he asked incredulously as Khushi shook her head, turning towards him

"No, you are getting it wrong...I just mean the feeling Arnav...of someone you love betraying you. I'm not saying that Akash is like my father" she said as Arnav still looked a bit annoyed

"That's still not fair Khushi...Akash really regrets what happened and he wants to make it all right...he's just a kid Khushi and I know he hurt Payal a lot by lying to her but that does not mean he should be judged and sentenced without being given a chance; if Payal is hurting, he is hurting too" he said as Khushi looked slightly miffed at his words

"Arnav, its easy for you to say something like this because you have gone through something like this...would you have been okay if I would have lied to you or led you on or kept something so big from you? Wouldn't you have felt used to some extent?" she asked him with feeling, as Arnav looked at her with guarded eyes

"This is not about us Khushi...what we have is completely different...Akash only hid the truth about his identity, its not like he led her on for devious means...he loves her, even you know that" Arnav said defending his brother when Khushi got up shaking her head

"You know what? Its no use talking to you when you so clearly, are biased towards your brother...he can do nothing wrong right? While a girl who he claims to love is miserable and devastated..." Khushi said as Arnav too got up in annoyance...this was not going anywhere

"Don't call me biased Khushi...I am on Payal's side as well; Last night I gave a sound hearing to Akash for what he did, but Payal too should understand that its not fair to cut him off completely without hearing his side...it's clear she does not love him as much as he does" Arnav said as Khushi pursed her lips

"Think what you want Arnav...I have work to do" she said as she turned around and left his cabin without a second look. Arnav kept looking at her retreating figure with mounting anger, before he too decided to not bother with Khushi on this topic.

...

And that fight was still lingering on...it had been 5 days and they still would not speak to each other cordially...Arnav had left town on the second day itself due to some pressing R&S matter while Khushi too had not seemed to care much, since she did not bother to call or text him. Even now that he was back, she had not come to office today.

But all this was getting unbearable...maybe he should have understood her part of the argument...he lost his fuse thinking she thought of Akash as Arun Mehra when she was only telling him about how she had felt...obviously it was something one felt when betrayed by a loved one and Akash had to some extent betrayed Payal by lying to her

And if he had it in his hands, he would rather be on Payal's side now instead of being sucked into Akash's mopey world where all he did was mope around liked a love sick fool and try and find ways to talk to Payal

Arnav had tried to explain to him to give her time but as always Akash did not listen...Life was just too f*****g great!

He yearned to hold Khushi in his arms, kiss her, love her...it had been so long since they had been intimate, heck he had not even kissed her since a long time! But more than anything, he just wanted to be with her.

There was no way he was going home to a moping Akash today' he decided it was best to stay back in the penthouse and try and get Khushi to talk to him tomorrow...one of them had to relent and it looks like it was going to be him.

...

"Khushi? Earth to Khushi!" Payal said as Khushi focused her attention back to see an amused Payal waving her hands in front of her face...she gave a small smile and went back to sipping her coffee as Payal pushed a piece of cheesecake she had made today

"You know...If I am correct, your boyfriend should have been back today, but here you are, sitting at home in your PJ's and pretending to do work" Payal said as Khushi cut a piece of the cheesecake and smiled at her, ignoring her question

"If I knew you bake so well when you are upset, I would have taken advantage of you a long time back" Khushi said as Payal sighed and sat down opposite her on the now utterly messy kitchen at Khushi's house

Payal had all but moved in since that night, especially because of the huge kitchen in the mansion, since all she did was bake and bake and bake some more, which was apparently therapeutic for her

Garima and Khushi let her do what she wanted to, but now it was getting crazy; Khushi was actually thinking of selling the mountains of cupcakes and other sweet stuff Payal had baked in the last four days

"See...once again you diverted the topic! Khushi! What is going on with you and Arnav? He left town and you have been miserable since then, pretending to work from home. I haven't once seen you pick up the phone and speak to him...I seriously hope this has nothing to do what happened with me and..." she trailed off as Khushi shook her head and held her hand

"Don't be silly...yes, we have some stuff going on, but nothing to worry about" Khushi said as she smiled at Payal's worried face...if nothing else, these 5 days had bought her and Payal very close with the latter opening up to Khushi about a lot of things

"Ok, but please go and meet him today and sort whatever issues you have with him...as it is, I think its high time I relocate back to my house...I think I'm much better now and I can't thank you and Garima aunty enough for being so patient with me" Payal said as she felt her eyes fill up

"You see, after my mom passed away, I haven't really had any female perspective on a lot of things...not that I'm complaining...my dad is both my mother and father, but sometime I think you need that emotional connect with another woman to get over certain things...which you both provided to me" Payal said as Khushi got up and came around to hug her

"Hey, anytime you want, you can speak to me or mamma ok, we are like family Payal, and always there for you allright" Khushi said as Payal nodded and hugged her back

"Can I ask you something Khushi?" Payal asked as Khushi nodded "Do you think I've been too harsh with Akash? Should I speak to him once? I mean, if nothing else then just for closure sake?" she asked as Khushi took a deep breath

"That is something only you can answer Payal...if you feel you are ready to hear him out, then you should" Khushi said as Payal slightly smiled and said in a more confident tone "Thanks...I think I know what to do"

...

"Ok Khushi...you can do this" Khushi said to herself as she entered the penthouse. She had come to know that Arnav was staying here tonight when she had called Lavanya, to enquire about him.

It was getting more and more difficult to restrain herself from going to him, knowing he was back after 4 torturous days...only she knew how her palms had itched to pick up the phone and call him...but her damn ego always stopped her...she wanted him to apologize to her first; but now she knew how stupid she had been

When you love someone, there is no such thing as ego that should ever come between you...and she knew that Arnav being upset made sense if he mistook her implying Akash to be like her father...no one should be compared to her father...especially Akash, whom she knew much better

She bit her lower lip as she heard sounds from his bedroom...tiptoeing slowly towards it, she opened the door slightly to see the bathroom door closing as he just seemed to have walked into it

She got inside to see his clothes scattered around and figured he must have gone for a shower, giving her visions of his glorious muscled body under the hot stream...oh how she had missed him...they can talk later...right now she wanted him like never before

...

Arnav felt rather than heard Khushi, as she opened the shower cubicle and got into the steamy shower that he was standing under...he felt her hands coming around from his back and resting on his chest as she pressed herself into him from behind

He closed his eyes at the sheer pleasure he felt as her naked body slid against his, while her lips left small kisses and nips along his shoulder...if he was dreaming, he never wanted to wake up again, but soon his suppressed desire got the better of him as he pulled her by her arm in front of him and brought her face to face with him

"Make love to me Arnav..." Khushi said as her last words were eaten up under the scorching onslaught of Arnav's hungry lips on hers...she slid her hands into his wet hair and held them tightly as he continued to ravage her mouth, her tongue meeting his in a frenzied manner as passion erupted between the two hungry souls

She moaned as he ran his hands all across her naked body, squeezing, pinching and molding her soft curves into his hard body as her nails raked over his heated muscles.

They could not stop kissing each other as their bodies rubbed deliciously over each other, making Khushi's body weep in surrender as Arnav's hardened under Khushi strokes, making him groan at her touch; a touch he had sorely missed

Without wasting any time he pushed her to the cool tiled walls of the shower cubicle as the hot water continued to drench them.

Hoisting her up along the wall, Arnav let her wrap her legs on his waist as she held onto his shoulders, while he held her up by her hips. The raw desire they saw in each others eyes was so intense that their bodies trembled with unrestrained passion as Arnav slid into her welcoming heat in a single thrust as she cried out his name, bending down to kiss him wildly

He held her soft body in his hands as they continued to make love, thrusting into her with a desperate vigor, his mouth latching onto her sensitized nubs as she threw her head back and moaned at the passionate assault.

Khushi dug her nails into his shoulders as she felt the first spasms of pleasure passing through her body, making her forget everything but the man she loved and how much she had missed him...she felt him go still for a second before he too cried out her name in ecstasy, emptying himself into her as both felt satiated at the frenzied love they had just experienced

Arnav pulled out of her slowly as he slid her sweaty body against him to make her stand on her wobbly knees. He looked into her eyes, which were full of love for him and smiled as he rested his forehead against hers. He kissed her tenderly before holding her close to him, as the water now ran tepid over them

"I love you...please don't ever be away from me..." he said as she felt her eyes fill up at his hoarse voice "Never..." she whispered back "I never want to argue with you baby...I love you so much" she said as he smiled and kissed her softly again

A few hours later as they lay entwined in bed after once more making love, but this time soft and slow...Khushi turned her head to watch Arnav as he peppered small kisses on her shoulders... "I'm really very sorry if you felt I was comparing Akash to.." she started saying, when Arnav kept a finger on her lips, silencing her

"There is no need to apologize...I took it the wrong way...plus I've had enough of Akash's devdas avatar...don't think I can take it anymore...what say we let them both deal with it themselves?" he asked her as Khushi giggled and snuggled more into his side "You betcha...I don't think I can take anymore of Payals baked goodies...I'll become fat if I keep eating them" she said as Arnav flipped her and came over her