Arshi ff 'one of the many-TURNS' CH 14 on pg 5

I am not very new to this forum, however, I have not been one of the most active members. Of all the stories that I have read so far, I am attempting to write something different, or so I feel. Hopefully it interests you all and I shall hear from you soon. Have fun!

A new, bright Californian spring morning. But the same old conversation. This wasn't the first time Khushi Gupta was screaming at her extremely insistent mother.

"I am sorry ma. But you seriously you leave me no other option."

"Why beta? Do you not miss your old lady at all now?"

And she lets out that silly chuckle rolling her eyes.

"You know this melodrama of yours is not going to work, right? It might have 10 years back, but now I know you too well Nina."

And her mother too could not help smiling at her darling daughter.

"And if I recall correctly, wasn't it just last week that you were here, and probably just a month more and you will be here again. I love having you here, it is so much fun."

"But beta this is your place too, your country. It has been so many years since you last came here. You cannot run all your life. And I meet you regularly. What about everyone else here who miss you?"

Khushi was silent. There was nothing she could say to convince her mother.

"I don't understand why we have this discussion every other week? You, of everyone else should know that this is home for me. That, is just a place you live in. Please ma. Anyway, I need to get ready for work now. Will call you tomorrow. Love you."

And yet again, the discussion was over.

However, today seemed different. It looked like some trouble was looming on her head, and Khushi, in the shower, could not help wonder if it was her work, or her mother, that caused this anxiety. Whatever it was, she was going to have to deal with it eventually.

She got out and started to get dressed. The constant buzz of her phone was her undoing. Still in her robe with dripping wet hair, she picked up the call.

"What ma?" She snapped.

"There is no need for you to be rude Khushi. I called for some work. But clearly you are in no mood."

Khushi sat on the edge of her bed and signed.

"Sorry! Go on, I am listening."

After almost 25mins of listening, her mother finally stopped, waiting for her reaction.

"What! Wouldn't you react?"

"Ma, is it some trick to get me there?"

Khushi knew she was stretching a bit too much but she couldn't help wonder. And immediately she heard a sharp intake of breath.

"I thought you knew your mother well."

She realized the sarcastic tone of her mother's voice was her doing.

"Fine. Send me all the details and the file. I will see what I can do."

"What!? Wouldn't you still not come here?"

"Ma, please! Not again! And besides this isn't my field of practice. I know a few people who may be interested in working on this case."

"This isn't a ramdom opportunistic case that you will hand over to some popularity-seeking desperate professional friend of yours. Don't you realize the severity of this all? Consider this as a favor that you can do to me."

"Jeez ma, you need to stop with this blackmail. It is totally working now."

And she can hear her mother's smile.

"So is it a yes."

"Yes!"

"YES! You are my daughter after all."

"Okay fine now. I will try to get there at the earliest. But send me all that you have so I can look into it and start figuring out the game plan."

"Thanks a lot beta."

"Come on ma. You know that's not needed. Anything for you."

"I don't need to tell you but still. This is very personal to me. I hope you can figure this out at the earliest."

"I will Nina. Chill now. I need to go, getting late. Send me all the stuff. Will call you back later."

"Sure beta. Bye. Love you."

Khushi stood up and stretched her cramped feet. Thinking about her conversation with her mother, she got ready with a new thing on her to-do-list.

Wondering aloud- "What was his name ma said?

Ah yes, Arnav Singh Raizada!"

"Arnav Singh Raizada"

He kept staring at his name at the end of the document. One signature and it would bring a closure to his torture. But was he really in need of closure? Certainly yes, but not in this manner. He would no way in hell forgive and forget what that chit of a man who did this to his family, never!

Arnav was a man of few emotions, and even fewer words. So when three years back his sister was murdered, society accepted that he would move on. But he was a man on mission- find and punish the culprit. Find, he did; but he paid a price for it. It wasn't blindly that he accepted his fate. He fought and struggled, tried to understand what lead to such severity. But he was a man after all, and could do only so much.

He may ignore all the evidence and still go with his gut that the accused did not kill his sister. He just knew it was not him. But he confessed- confessed that he killed his wife, his darling wife of five years, over money. How was Arnav to believe that!

Yet, the confession was enough for the court to pronounce him guilty and imprison him for fourteen years.

That midnight of a cold January morning, he had received the heart wrenching call from the city hospital. He was informed about the accident and the blast which led to his sister's death. He wasn't even allowed to see her, there wasn't much for him to see anyway with her body burnt entirely. He was numb, neither sad, nor devastated- just numb. He wasn't even given the body for the last rites. He just stood there and saw movements of people around him. Not understanding a word, nor reacting to their condolences. He just stood there. The only thing he figured out was when he was told to go home and rest until further call.

He drove home, numb and silent. And slept. Four hours later, he woke up with a start and frantically ran across the corridor to his sister's room. It was empty, just the way it was since yesterday. And suddenly the events of midnight started playing in his head. He heard voices and finally understood.

"We are so sorry Mr. Raizada but there wasn't much for us to do when she was brought it. She was already dead."

"You might not be able to see her. Her body is burnt."

"This is a police case, so we cannot allow you to take the body yet."

"Would you answer a few question?"

"Doctor, doctor- he isn't saying anything."

"He is in shock."

"You need to let him be for now. Do the questioning later."

"Mr. Raizada, I am in charge of this case. We already have a man who has confessed to murdering your sister. We can talk about it in the morning. I think you should go home now."

"I am so sorry for your loss."

It was then that he realized- his sister was dead, and her husband confessed to murdering her.

Shyam Manohar Jha had confessed murdering Anjali Raizada Jha.

"You are stinky. And I am sure cranky too."

Khushi couldn't help but smile at her mother's comment on hugging her at the airport.

"But you still wouldn't leave me considering we met just a couple of weeks back. And what do you expect? Such a bloody long flight."

"Do you know how it feels like..."

"Stop ma! I know you are a big Enrique fan, but now is really not the time to bother me with that."

"I was just trying to tell you that this is what I feel exactly with so many trips that I take to see you. But then all my tiredness goes away as soon as I see my little girl, who is not so little anymore."

Khushi can't help but laugh at her mother with tears in her eyes.

"Oh ma! I missed you, and it's the same for me too. Now let us get out of this place if you may."

The ride back home was extremely nostalgic for Khushi. It was like deju vu!

"It hasn't changed at all."

She said it more to herself.

"Home never changes beta. I hope you realize it sooner."

"Tada!"

"OMG ma! What am I, 5? This wasn't needed you know."

Even though it was a little embarrassing, it brought a smile on Khushi's face- the whole house was decorated with lots of balloons and ribbons.

"Well there was no way I was going to let my daughter come home to a dark boring house. Welcome home sweetheart."

And she again took her in a bear hug. Maybe Khushi did realize now that she missed this place, this place which had given her the best and the worst memories of her life.

"Okay now, leave me, will you! I will quickly shower and change and then we can talk about this project you have taken."

"Not project, it is something very personal to me and you better get it sooner than later."

"Fine! I cannot wait to see this Arnav Singh Raizada of yours. Are you sure you haven't adopted him already?"

"He is already my son, I don't need an adoption to prove it anyway."

Khushi's curiosity was increasing every minute that her mother spoke of this man. She couldn't wait to see him. Little did she know, that she was in a very big surprise.

"So mother, when do we leave for Delhi? That is where your SON is right?"

Khushi couldn't help but stress on the word SON.

"haha! Why do I feel something is burning? Are you jealous sweetheart that we are so close?"

Khushi rolls her eyes "Please me. Not jealous, but just curious. And I want to finish work sooner here. You know I cannot stay away for very long."

"Even though I understand the urgency of this matter, I would want you to take rest today. We can go tomorrow. Our tickets are already booked."

"I think that makes sense. I am so tired, and this jetlag is taking a toll on me. Can I have an early dinner and sleep soon?"

That night when Khushi was in bed, she couldn't sleep. She tried to figure out what signals her gut was sending her.

"Delhi, that's where I will be tomorrow. Why does it seem like that's where I will find something, someone? Or maybe it's this case that's bugging me so much. I need to try and get some rest before I kick start my journey."

The flight from Mumbai to Delhi was not as long but Khushi was extremely eager. Her mother noticed this and couldn't help but wonder why she was acting all nervy, "What's the matter beta? Why are you so restless? Is something the matter? Khushi?"

Khushi looked up from the book she was holding for almost an hour now, "Nothing ma. It's just that I have never done something like this ever. I feel I am not the right person for this. And then there are so many expectations from me that it seems burdensome. I don't feel relaxed as I should be. I hope this wasn't a wrong decision."

Her mother gave her a tight smile, "Trust me beta, if I could, I would've never involved you in this but you are the only one I trust. There are no expectations, just hope- hope that Arnav will find a closure. The reason I thought you could help is also because he wouldn't see a doctor. He is extremely stressed and we all worry about his health. Maybe with you around, he will open up a little bit."

"Oh so you actually want my help as a psychologist! That I don't mind at all. In fact it's comforting to know that there is something that I can definitely help with. Tell me ma, why is he so important to you?"

"I don't know why, but he really is. He is a son I never had, not that I ever pined for one. I have you!"

They smiled a genuine smile at each other. Khushi put her head on her mother's shoulder, "Tell me about him ma."

"Arnav?"

"Yup!"

"hmmm, he is exactly like his name- calm and serene on the top, deep and unsettled on the inside like an ocean. He comes to look like an extremely arrogant and full of himself person, but for those who know him well, know that he is the most loving and caring man you could know. I have seen him with his parents, siblings, elders, even the house workers. It's just that he can't express and so he is often misunderstood..."

Khushi was not listening anymore. She was in her deep old memories of that someone that she would never forget. A someone deeply engraved in her heart, her soul maybe.

"Khushi, KHUSHI??"

"Huh! Yea, sorry I didn't realized when I dozed off. Are we there already?"

"Yes we are. Let's go. Arnav has sent a car for us. I can't wait for the two most important people in my life to meet."

AR Designs, Delhi Branch"

"Mr. Raizada, sir, they are here. Should I send them to your cabin?"

Arnav was brought out of reverie with the phone from his receptionist.

"Yea, tell them I will join them in 5."

He smiled, a first real one in days.

He got up and freshened up, and left the conference room to go to his cabin.

He opened the door without knocking, "Nima..."

Nina turned around and gave him a bright smile and stood up to walk towards him.

"Arnav, darling, how are you?"

She took him in a bear hug.

"Much much better after seeing you. How are you Nima? It's been so long since I last saw you."

Khushi was dreading turning around from where she sat. She somehow felt the voice to be very familiar.

"I am very well. But before everything, let me introduce you to my daughter. Beta..."

Khushi had to turn around now, she was left with no other options. And as soon as she did, they both said together-

"ASR", "K"!!

"ASR", "K"!!

Nina's gaze shifted from Arnav to Khushi, and again from Khushi to Arnav.

"You two know each other", she said it more to herself, "How?"

"Nima, let's sit and talk, come!"

They sat on the couch in his cabin and Arnav started,

"We were..."

"Together at Stanford in CA", Khushi interrupted him and Arnav couldn't help but look strangely at her, "him in business school and I in medical." She gave him a pointed look as if conveying that that was all her mother needed to know.

It definitely surprised her mother, but she felt happy that things will get easier to work with as the two knew each other, "that's wonderful! Isn't it Khushi beta? And I was worried how you two would get along considering that you will be living with Arnav for a while now."

Khushi snapped her head towards her mother, "I am not going to live with him. We are strangers ma. I would feel better in a hotel. Please."

Her mother was not happy. In a new place like Delhi, it was not safe for her daughter to live alone. And there was no way she would allow.

And she said, "Khushi, don't act like a kid. We are not having this argument. I have already spoken to Arnav and he is fine with letting you stay with him. I am not going to be here to keep a track of you, and neither do I want to be worried about you being on your own when I am trying to work in Mumbai."

Khushi was hurt with her mother's tone, and it also annoyed her to have this discussion if front of her mother's darling Arnav.

As if Arnav could understand her state, he got up saying, "I need to make a call. I shall be back in 10mins. Make yourselves comfortable and I shall have something to drink sent in."

He left briskly without a backward glance.

As soon as the door shut, Khushi erupted, "Ma, why didn't you tell me you were not going to stay back? And what is the need for me to stay with him? I will feel better in a hotel. And what about his privacy too? I don't need a babysitter..."

Khushi would have continued but for the look on her mother's face. Nina was highly irritated in trying to explain her daughter every small thing, "Khushi, there is no room for further argument. I came with you just to introduce you two. I have already taken a lot of holidays when I last came to visit you. I cannot be away from work any longer. Had I told you this before, you would have thrown a tantrum. Please stop making things difficult. I cannot have you on your own in a new place without constantly worrying. Please try and understand. And Arnav has been very accommodating, why can't you be the same? Anyway I will be leaving for Mumbai in the evening. I don't want to leave without being sure that you are settled. Please beta."

Khushi had nothing more to say except for agreeing. She nodded and mumbled a low fine. Just then there was a knock on the door and a man walked in with a tray laden with what looked like tea and coffee.

Seeing him, her mother said, "Thank you. And can you find and send Arnav in please? Thanks."

She turned towards Khushi and said, "and if it makes you feel any better, remember, you will have to be near him for him to open up to you. Else if he knows our ulterior motive of you being here, he will shut you out as well. I hope you are getting my point."

Khushi knew her mother was right, and she had to put her personal preferences aside and think professionally. There was a knock on the door and Arnav walked in. He gave a small smile to Nina, and a tight forced one to Khushi, hoping all was settled.

Nina told Arnav that she was leaving in the evening. It disappointed him but he understood that she needed to get back to work. They decided to head to his apartment then.

He asked them to go ahead and get the driver to bring out the bags. Meanwhile he called his secretary, "La please cancel all my meetings for today. Thanks!"

Khushi was wondering why the driver was removing the bags from the car instead of driving to where ever he lived. And as if to answer her unasked question, her mother said, "Arnav's penthouse is the top floor of this building."

Now she understood. Arnav walked out of the elevator in all his male glory, and it was then that Khushi got a chance to notice him. He hadn't changed a lot, a little bit maybe but the change was amazing. He was always good looking, but now he looked like a man, a stunning sculpted man like an artist's fine creation. The precision of his face, his body was so sexy. And his eyes... And it was then that she realized that Arnav was pointed looking at her, and he gave her his lopsided extremely sensuous smirk as if telling her that he knew she was checking him out.

On reaching his apartment"

"I think I am going to rest for a while before my flight tonight. Khushi, will you okay unpacking and settling your room on your own? I feel very tired."

"No problem ma."

Nina moved to a room at the extreme left corner leaving Arnav and Khushi in the front room. There seemed to be an awkward silence around, before Khushi thought of breaking it, "Um I um think I will put my stuff inside later so that I do not disturb ma."

Arnav turned towards her and said, "Oh well there is already another room set up for you upstairs if that is fine with you. You can stay in which ever room you feel comfortable in."

Khushi didn't want to sound fussy and so just agreed to have the room upstairs.

"There are three bedrooms on this floor. I use one and the other is my attached study. You can have the last one on the right. Also I have made some space for you in my study if you want to work there. There is also a gym and pool downstairs on the door to the left of the apartment entrance if you want to use it. Please let me know if there is anything else if you need. Mary is the housekeeper and she is usually here from 10 to 7. You can tell her your meal preferences and any other needs that you have."

"Thanks Ar.., Mr. Raizada."

Arnav looked up at her while she avoided his gaze. He had a lot of questions for her but those would wait. Just when he was about to leave her the door, Khushi stopped him, "Why do you call my mother Nima?"

Arnav- "Its short for Nina ma."

Khushi did not like one bit that he was calling her mother ma, but she just nodded in his direction as if dismissing him. Arnav walked away towards the other end of the corridor and entered what seemed like his room or study and shut the door behind him.

Khushi kept standing there for a while longer before she realized she was alone there. She entered the room and found it to beautiful. There was a four poster canopy queen sized bed against the center wall and on the opposite side of the bed was a huge LCD television right up on the wall. Each side of the bed had an attached bed stand with an antique night lamp. The right wall was entirely glass except for the corner where there was a huge dressing table, while the left had a door leading to the attached bath, and a further attached walk wardrobe. The bath was beautiful with a Jacuzzi tub as well. There was an LCD right across the tub. Khushi instantly fell in love with the room. She thought that everything around Arnav was to be uncomfortable, then might as well find all comforts in this room for whatever time she would spend here. She immediately got started unpacking and arranging her stuff in orderly manner.

Meanwhile Arnav was extremely frustrated. He was more shocked than surprised to find out that his Nima's Khushi, was the same Khushi he had come to know so closely while his stay in CA. And he realized that Khushi was plainly ignoring him and not acknowledging the fact of how well they knew each other.

Well two can play the game. And so he decided, that if she was not interested, he would ignore her as well. And he let go of his hope that he had on seeing her in his office- the hope of getting back together, the hope of picking up their broken relationship from where they had left it years back in CA.

Her thoughts were all over the place. She was feeling lost and dreaded going down the memory lane with the fear that it will hurt all over again. And just then she heard a persistent knock on the door, and she opened it.

"What were you doing? I knocked like ten times and the door was also locked.."- Nina looked around "Oh you are almost done unpacking it seems. Good! I thought I will sit chit-chat with you before we leave for the airport. If you are too tired, you don't need to come." She smiled at her, "You love a little pale to me. Is everything okay?"

Khushi sat down next to her on the bed and kept her head on her mother's shoulder, "I feel horrible that you won't be around for us to spend time together. That is what is bothering me ma."

"Oh dear, thank God it's nothing else. Don't worry about it beta. Finish your work here and come over for a few days before you go back. And anyway I would also come see you in between. Maybe next weekend. How about that?"

Khushi smiled. She knew her mother was saying this to make her feel better, "It's okay ma. I am a big girl and will be able to take care of myself. But promise me you will call every day. You know how I forget when I get busy."

"Of course darling. Will call every day. Now let's go. Arnav must be waiting downstairs for us. And I want to eat something before we leave."

They got up and hugged each other before heading downstairs.

(PLEASE NOTE THAT FROM HERE ONWARDS, THE STORY WILL PROCEED FROM KHUSHI'S POINT OF VIEW)

The silence was killing me, since after we dropped ma to the airport. I was already missing her. I wasn't known to be the quietest person and this seemed like a punishment to me. I was sure Arnav would never speak to me without me starting first. Wasn't I aware how big his ego was! And I had repeatedly hurt it since we saw each other. But that was the right thing to do. Didn't I know how badly it hurt the last time...

"KHUSHI.." he touched me to bring me out of my dreamy world and my God did it burn where he touched!

"What?" I snapped at him. That was my self-defense for now.

"Still all impulsive and catty as before."

"Cut the crap Raizada. I am sure you don't want to talk about my behavioral traits."

"I really don't know how we are going to work together considering you are not ready to listen to one thing I say"- I know he was right, I was being a bitch- "But I just wanted to know what you wanted to eat. The cook didn't come today so there is no dinner at home."

I felt a twinge of disappointment. He wanted to talk about dinner. Whatever!

"Nothing too heavy. Maybe a subway sandwich."

We reached a Subway outlet. I was hoping we could take away so that I could go home and eat rather than sit with him through awkward silence again. And good for me, he did want the same thing as well. But just when I was getting out of the car my phone rang. And I looked at the caller to realize it was from my clinic and so I had to take it. I asked Arnav to go ahead and that I would join him shortly.

It seemed there was some crisis at the clinic with regards to a former patient and they required my help with his file. I was still on the call when I saw Arnav walk back with just one bag of packed sandwiches. He got in the car and started driving. I gave him a confused look since I had not picked up my dinner. But he was ignoring me. And there was no way I was hanging up to argue with him. I was prepared to go home and look for something to eat rather than ask him. I continued my call for another 20mins. We were just parking at basement when I hung up. We walked to the private elevator that would take up to his apartment.

Arnav held out a pair of 2 keys in front of me, "these are for the elevator and apartment, in case if you are out alone. I don't want you to be waiting for me. And starting tomorrow morning, there is going to be a car with a driver waiting for you down here whenever you want to go anywhere. And before you argue, I don't want Nima to be worrying about you and so please just accept it without a fuss."

I took the keys and mumbled a low thanks. It was a lost battle for me anyway but I really appreciated his gesture. I knew it wasn't just for my mother that he was doing all this. But I didn't want to raise my hopes again.

He opened the door and we walked in. I went to the kitchen thinking about dinner when he walked behind me and handed me a packed sandwich. I looked at him a little surprised.

"I know what you like at subway. So I picked it for you as you were busy on the call."

Before I could say anything, he turned his back and walked away. I left him alone for now. Walking to the fridge, I opened it to find something to drink. I was surprised to find some of the drinks were my favorites which I thought they didn't sell in India. Without giving it much thought, I picked up a bottle of root beer and settled on the bar stool to enjoy my dinner in solitude.

After I was done, I thought of speaking to Arnav regarding the game plan. It seemed a very hard thing to approach him and I don't know why I was very nervous about it. Either way I knew that I had to speak to him to get the work done so I could leave from here ASAP. But that thought kind of hurt. I didn't dwell a lot on it and reached what seemed to be Arnav's room. I knocked a couple of times but didn't get a reply. So I tried the knob and found it unlocked. I wasn't sure if I should walk in but I did nevertheless.

His room was just like him- dark yet comforting, intimidating yet extremely masculine, in colors of brown and cream. However what surprised me was that it wasn't a square or rectangular room. It was a six sided hexagon. I was pretty damn sure that on the outside the whole building was symmetrical. So it seemed some kind of an architectural illusion. Whatever it was, it was pretty darn fancy and glamorous for a bedroom, with an old world charm to it. And it looked as glamorously furnished with a big king size bed against the center wall which had a half the size adjacent wall on each side, and both of those smaller walls were covered with floor to ceiling glass cabinets filled with books. I always knew Arnav was an ardent reader, but these many books! I don't think I must have read even half of them, considering that reading was my favorite pass time. I turned around and noticed two doors on the left wall. I assumed they must lead to the bathroom and his study, just the way they did in my room. There was no dressing table in the room so I suspected it must be inside the wardrobe somewhere. The wall opposite the bed was all glass. The view was fantastic. I would love to keep staring at it all day and night- all buildings in front were lower in height so the view was extended beyond the human sight. I realized I was standing there for a while. I looked away and noticed a very comfortable cream leather corner sofa, half of which faced towards the bed and the other half towards the glass wall. The flooring was dark wood and the floor and ceiling engraved lights gave the room a very sensual feeling. I realized my thoughts were extremely inappropriate and began to move out of the room, when one of the doors opened and Arnav walked inside.

He looked at me in a suspicious way I thought, and so I frowned almost telling him that I wasn't prying around. However an explanation wasn't required considering I knocked on the door.

Before I could say anything, he asked me, "Did you need anything?"

"Um, not really. I just came to apologize for my behavior earlier. And thanks for the sandwich. I didn't think you would buy one for me. That was almost sweet of you."

"Save me the flattery. You are my guest, and more importantly, Nima's daughter. That was the only reason I did what I did."

I did not understand why he was acting all nasty, but I chose to ignore him.

"Whatever! When do you want to talk about the stuff I am here for? Ma told me a few things but I am sure there is much more to that and you are the best person to tell me everything that I need to know before I start working."

"Well I have a teleconference in ten minutes. I would be over in half an hour. Can you wait till then? There is no way I can re-schedule."

As much as I wanted to make his life miserable, I wanted to get done with here, so I complied and left his room, after we decided to meet in the study in 45 minutes.

I came back to my room and decided to shower and change. The Delhi humidity was making me feel very sticky and sweaty in spite of the chilling air conditioner.

Forty minutes later I was already in the study waiting for Arnav. I was just looking around. Thankfully the study looked like any usual plush study and nothing extraordinarily extravagant. I stood staring outside the glass wall while waiting. 10 minutes later I heard the door open. I turned around and saw Arnav standing at the foot of his bedroom door, looking at me very intently. His stare seared through me. It was a predator's look, his face was impassive but I knew him better than that. There seemed to be raging storm underneath him. His stance was screaming of raw desperation and desire, and his eyes spoke volumes of lust.

"You are wearing red", his voice was a husky purr.

And just like the past, I found myself highly seduced without much ado, almost horny with need for his touch.

CH 5!! 😊

RED

I knew what that color on me did to Arnav. Hell yes! When in the past I use to wear red, it was for him- for him to see, like, and appreciate. Red made me feel beautiful and sexy only because he said so. How was I so careless to be in house, ALONE, in a color which neither of us could handle? But the truth was that I wasn't thinking. I didn't know I was going to meet Arnav under any circumstances. But standing here facing this man, I didn't know I was capable of this level of desperation.

"You are wearing red."

I don't know if it was a question or an accusation. But I felt it was needed to give an explanation, "So? It's not like I cannot wear this color. And please don't flatter yourself that I am wearing it for you, because I am not. And I never will. I wasn't aware I was coming to your house in the first place. So you have no right to believe otherwise."

I blabbered and finally turned around facing the glass again, when I heard his low steps coming closer to me. And in no time I felt his warm breath on my neck. He seemed to be breathing heavily.

"You need to stop running from me, please." He put his palms flat on the glass on my either side trapping me in between him and the glass. I had nowhere to go. But I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of giving up. I stayed still without a response.

"Please K! Stop running. I need you. Don't punish me for what I never did. Please!"

There was a plea in his voice and a wary desire. I tried hard to not give in, but at the end, I knew it was going to be his way. When had I ever used my sense when it came to him!. I slowly turned around and looked up right in his eyes. They looked deeply disturbed.

"Ar.. Arnav," I found myself struggling to make a whole coherent sentence. I was very nervous with his proximity, and immediately looked down at the floor, "there isn't anything between us for me to run from. It was over the day you walked out. And I have no wish to talk about it. I am here for a purpose ..."

Before I could finish, I saw him leaning down on me. My reflexes failed to react and I stood frozen.

"After everything, you owe me at least a kiss K. Don't deny me that."

It seemed he had not heard a single word I just said. He bent further down, when I realized what was happening. But wasn't this exactly what I wanted? I stood there, with my eyes closed, waiting for his touch, deciding of letting go of all sanity. But when I didn't feel it, I opened my eyes and looked up at his face.

And right when our eyes met, he captured my lips in a ravishing kiss. It was explosive, and I felt my toes curling. His hands were still far from touching me, and I felt myself craving for more. Unable to stop myself, I reached for his hands and put them on my buttocks, and released them there for their own ministrations. Meanwhile my hands had a mind of their own and they reached to secure his nape. I weaved my hands in his thick hair, pulling him closer than he already was. His hands grabbed my behind, softly massaging and pulling towards his hips. I felt his hardness. I wanted to rejoice my effect on him, and I heard myself moaning. He slightly lifted me up and as if we were the most naturally acquainted lovers, I wrapped my legs around him. I felt him moving, and in an instance, I found him above me on the couch in the study. He moved lower, kissing and nibbling on my neck and shoulder, showing his desperation of touching me. I knew, that in this moment, there was nothing I would do to ruin this. His hands reached the hem of my camisole, and just when he was at my midriff reaching to pull it off my breasts and head, I felt him still, only to realize the ringer go off somewhere on the table behind. It was my phone. I heard his frustrated growl from the interruption. He stayed there, his head near my stomach, his breath tickling my bare skin there. And our moment stood shattered. I panicked and tried to push his shoulders so he would get up. But he didn't bulge.

"Stop Khushi. This is what I don't want you to run away from. There is going to be an explosion whenever we are together. You can't help it."

He lifted himself up from me and stood at the couch's end looking down at me. I lay there numb, unable to understand what just happened. He bent down and straightened my top, covering me. The gentleman that he was!

"I will see you in the front room. We will talk whenever you are ready. And I am fine if you want to sleep tonight and talk tomorrow instead."

Without waiting for my reply, he opened the door and walked out.

I don't know how long I laid there uncomfortably. But the realization of what just happened hit me hard. Yes, we did have a moment, but that was all that it was- a moment. And Arnav had to get over it. I didn't care how he would do that. I finally stood up, my legs felt weak. But I ignored the feeling and picked my phone. There were 2 missed calls from my mother. She must have called to inform that she landed. I left her a text saying I was sleepy, and will call her back in the morning. I wasn't in the condition to talk to her. I took a few deep breaths. As much as I wanted to call it a night, I did not want to give Arnav the satisfaction of assuming how intensely this had affected me. I was anything but a coward. I had to face him, and I had to face him now.

I found Arnav sitting comfortably on the expensive leather sofa, with his legs extended on the coffee table in front of him. He had his computer open on the lap desk and was engrossed reading something. I drank the view. He looked sexy with black loose tracks and a tight black vest. My hands craved to run over his sculpted body. I realized my wayward thoughts and reprimanded myself over them. There was a glass of red wine of the table and I suddenly felt the need of it to calm my senses. I was hoping it was my favorite one but well that would have to wait.

"This is what you think it is."

W*F! He knew I was staring at him, and he also knew what I wanted to drink.

"How would you know what I wanted to drink, or for that matter even if I wanted to drink or not?"

"It is Sauvignon from Napa. Still don't want it?"

It didn't look favorable to me to argue with him and I didn't want to miss having my favorite wine ever.

"The bottle's in the fridge by the bar. And the glass in on the bar top."

He didn't wait for me to ask him for it, and I felt relieved that he wasn't making my life harder than it already seemed with him around.

I brought the bottle and the glass and filled my glass as well as refilled Arnav's. It seemed we both had mutually decided to let the earlier moment left undiscussed.

He finally put his computer aside, and faced me. His demeanor was calm and determined, as if he was ready to talk business with me. That seemed to bring out my professional side up as well.

"Nima must have told you everything I believe."

"She did. But I need to hear it from you. She might have left out important parts and I have to know the whole story to proceed from."

Arnav told me about what had happened when his sister was announced dead. I found it very confusing of how I could render any help to this case. I had worked with criminals before, but that was in the States. I have no clue as to how the Indian judiciary worked.

"I know you are confused to be here. But trust me, this is what I really need; you are what I need!"

There was definitely a double meaning to his words but I chose to let them be for now.

"Please explain why my services as a psychologist are needed here."

"I was never sure why Shyam did what he did. He loved my sister. They were great together. Probably my only inspiration of a happily ever after. It's unbelievable of what he did. I accepted it then because of my grief and it only looked appropriate for her murderer to be punished. Justice seemed to have been served. But since I read the NGO's petition and their arguments in it that he should be excused, I feel I am again at the same threshold of doubt. It doesn't mean I have forgiven him or that I am no more grieving for di. But the doubts have started coming back with a ferocious intensity and I can't seem to have a closure. It is extremely unsettling and I need answers. All that time back, Shyam only said he killed her because she found out he was cheating on her and she wanted a divorce. Divorce meant end of money for Shyam, plus a reputation blow of infidelity with a Raizada woman. So to keep her quiet and secure his future, he did what he did. But then guilt kept eating him up and he needed to get it out. He said he loved her a lot and so all the money made no sense to him without her in his life. I feel my gut is trying to saying something, it's trying to point at the loopholes, and I know there are a lot of them. He wouldn't give me the whole story. You are my only hope of understanding what could he be plotting in his mind. I was ready to leave everything behind and let go of it but now there is no way I will rest till I know the whole truth; or at least till his truth convinces me."

I knew exactly what Arnav was talking about. I had a lot of patients who were dealing with their close ones' death where they felt that the apparent reasons for their death were not enough, that there was a lot more than what seemed on the surface, that they wanted to bring justice even though justice was served already. The difference between them and Arnav was that Arnav wanted me to go and probe the convicted murdered, whereas from his status and his description, I was almost sure it was not Shyam, but Arnav who needed my consult. However knowing him, it would be a next to impossible task to convince him to let me help him. So I decided to play along and look into the matter as far as I could so as to at least convince him that I tried and that there was no more than what there already was. Maybe then he might accept and move on?

"I need to talk to this Shyam guy first. I cannot start before then. How soon can you arrange for a meet?"

"I already looked into it. How about the day after? That's the earliest, since tomorrow is not possible."

"Well I think that should be fine. I need to know a few more things before I meet him. Maybe we can talk again tomorrow evening after you finish work, if that's okay with you."

"We can do it sooner than evening K. After all you are here for me, so you are my priority."

The way he said it, I knew he meant more. Professionally, I was very accomplished to see through Arnav even with his faade up. But when it came to him, I did not even believe my best instincts.

He noticed I had grown quiet and thought, "Um K, you need to stop this."

I was surprised, "Stop what?"

"We both know you see me as if I am one of your patients. Don't deny it. You feel I need to be treated."

I was shocked he knew my thoughts. Was I that readable?

"Yes! You always are to me."

"Ok now stop. You are seriously freaking me out. Yes, I do feel you need to sort yourself the most, and I can help you with that. But I also know that that will be possible only if you are rest assured that I tried what you wanted me to do. So I will!"

"Thanks! I am not your muse or subject, so please stop seeing me in that light. I am more than sorted, and I do not need your approval for that."

Arrogant ass! Huh! It was all over his face, his pretense. And I was not Khushi was nothing. Of course I would sort him, without him knowing. After all, I was the keenest to find out why he did what he did to me; why he left me all those years ago, when what I believed we both felt was more than a mere casual fling?