Arnav-Khushi: Perfectly Imperfect - Last Part [12/04] Note-Page 50 :D - Page 12

Superb update dear please update soon

OMG!! Can't believe I read all 12 update in one day...

Hey just caught up with this story and I simply love it...adorable it is...beautiful...

Part 13

Khushi held her breath as Arnav's fingers grazed the back of her neck, as he tried to fix whatever was wrong with the clasp of her necklace. She tried to distract her mind with mundane thoughts, but it didn't work.

She was still just as acutely aware of the tiniest of sensations that were emerging from the points where his fingertips and his warm breath met her nape. The effect was electrifying. A most peculiar realisation struck her then, that her attraction towards him went beyond just liking certain traits of his, or appreciating his company, or falling under the charm of his aftershave's sorcery. Those were all mere excuses that she had made up to justify why she might have felt attracted to him. But the truth was, as she felt it then, that she needed no reasons to feel drawn towards him. She just was.

Oh dear, she thought, this was most inconvenient indeed.

On the other end, Arnav's confusion seemed to have multiplied manifold. He was no stranger to physical proximity with women, and, as an avid reader and science enthusiast, he knew enough of human biology to know that the bodily changes that such physical proximity usually entailed were brought about by chemical reactions in the brain. And so, it was always with an academic sort of detachment that he would usually take note of his quickened heartbeats and clammy hands and drying throat when he was with some woman or the other. As notoriously gallant and flirtatious as he was, that was all there was to his usual "interactions" with women. He enjoyed the thrill of the chase, but beyond that, it was all mechanical, pragmatic.

But this, what he felt as he inched closer to Khushi and her powdery floral scent mingled with his breaths, was entirely different. It felt right, as nothing had ever felt right before. He felt solace - solace of the kind that one might feel when at the very edge of reason. And strangely, for someone who delighted in being in control all the time, all he wanted was to let go and submerge himself entirely in the moment.

With great effort, he managed to focus his attention back on the necklace clasp and he gently pulled away the strands of hair that had been caught in it before fastening it.

Khushi slowly turned to face him and he felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him as he realised how tantalisingly close their faces were to each other, and how desperately he wanted to kiss her. As though his life depended on it.

Fortunately, perhaps, they were interrupted by the door bell. Arnav cleared his throat awkwardly as he went to open the door.

He barely had the time to register who was at the door, when he was jostled out of the way and nearly stampeded upon by what felt then like an army of people.

Khushi just gaped, stunned into silence, as she watched her family make their way towards her crying and hugging her and scolding her and in general, assaulting with some of their choicest horrendously overacted melodrama.

She strained her ears as she tried to filter out the filmi dialogues to find some snippets of fact that could explain how and why they had landed up at the Kashyaps' residence. It turned out that Mr Kashyap, who had gone to Delhi on some business, had phoned some random person at Lucknow and somehow learnt that rumour had it that Khushi had run away from home. Good Samaritan as he was, he had immediately informed Khushi's family of her whereabouts.

And so it was that the delegation had made its way to Mumbai to take Khushi back with them.

"Amma," Khushi said firmly, "I'm not going back to Lucknow until I become an actress."

Some wailing and self-forehead-slapping followed.

Then Madhumati Bua stepped in, with her best sugar coated voice, and tried to pacify her, "Arre o Sankadevi, meri Titalya, we know you like all this acting-shacting, but what about your shaadi? Isn't that the best role in the world, to be someone's wife? Don't all girls dream of the day when they -"

"No, they don't, and I definitely don't," Khushi said, a tinge of desperation entering her voice, wondering how she could possibly run away now. They would no doubt keep a much stronger vigil, having been hoodwinked once already.

"You cannot stay here without getting married, and that's final," Bua said, all sweetness having quickly evaporated, "We are getting you married to Pappuji, and then you can come holiday here afterwards."

"Chhi, what kind of name is Pappuji? And I am not holidaying in Mumbai. I'm building my career."

"Khushi," Payal said hesitantly, "Pappuji is a very nice person, and... and... I think that maybe he won't mind you becoming an actress after you get married."

You know how in those typical hindi serials, at dramatic moments, every character in the room takes turns in giving an over-the-top overreaction to whatever monstrosity has occurred? Khushi's family quickly proceeded to do the same. Amma even attempted to fake a faint for good measure. The idea that Khushi become an actress was preposterous of course.

Khushi smiled at her sister, her dearest Jiji. Yes, the mere thought that she should have to ask some random stranger for permission to do what she had been born to do was outrageous. But she knew that although Payal could never even understand her career aspirations, she did try to be of support, and in that moment, when Khushi was being cornered and pushed against a wall, that little beacon of light deserved to be appreciated.

"Jiji," she said warmly, "You know I cannot marry someone I do not even know or... love."

"Bitiya," her father then spoke, "There is a right time for everything. You will have to get married, and... I agree with Payal bitiya, if your husband doesn't mind, then you can follow your dreams. But marriage is a must. I will not listen to you this time."

Khushi felt her her breath hitch as her eyes filled up with hot, heavy tears. She had never been too affected by the admonitions and sermons of the others, but now her father who had always stood by her, silently, had told her that marriage was a must. She realised, with guilt weighing on her heart, that he must have been upset and worried when he had learnt that she had run away, and to add to it all, he would have had to face the repercussions of her fugue with everyone chiding him for not being a good father. That must have been why he had so firmly made the marriage issue non-negotiable. The tears dropped from her eyes helplessly as she realised that she would never have the heart to go against him.

"What are you saying ji?" her mother said, incensed by the suggestion that Khushi be allowed to act, "Don't encourage this nonsense! You're just giving her an excuse to postpone her marriage even more. Which husband would want his wife to dance around on tv instead of making him chai?"

"I wouldn't mind," a small voice said some distance away.

Khushi nearly had a heart attack. Arnav?

Arnav walked over to Khushi's father, and said respectfully, "I would like to get engaged to Khushi, with your permission. And if she wants to act, I have no issue with that."

"Who are you?" Bauji asked, as the rest of his family nodded vigorously, in approval of the question.

"I am Arnav Singh Raizada. I'm a CEO of a fashion company. Lavanya works at my office. And, uh... Khushi is my friend."

"Friend?" Madhumati Bua interjected, in a tone that would have been apt if Arnav had just announced that he was a serial murderer.

"Actually, I like Khushi, and I was planning to get engaged with her today."

Khushi's father turned to look at her, looking extremely hurt, and whispered, "When were you planning to tell us?"

"Khushi didn't know," Arnav said quickly in her defence, "It was supposed to be a surprise for her. I was going to take her to my house today, and have a small ceremony in the presence of my family. I'm sorry, I should have informed you. This is all my fault."

Khushi's father gave him a stern look, and said, "We need time to think about this. The engagement will not happen today. Inform your family."

"But Bauji -" Khushi said, as the image of an excited-looking Anjali flashed in her mind, "His family must have made all the preparations already."

"Do you actually want to marry him, Khushi bitiya?" Bauji asked, surprised, knowing too well that his daughter would never settle for marriage if it were not out of love. Even though he did firmly believe that she should get married, because that was just the way things were done, her happiness and her choice did matter.

Khushi gulped. She had quickly understood that Arnav was only doing this to save her from marrying that moronic Pappuji, or whoever else her family would have found for her. He was pretending to be her fake fiance in front of her family, in the same way as she had done for him. But was it a good idea? They had not decided what they would tell the Raizadas who had been told a completely different version of events, and neither had they planned what they would do afterwards.

Still, she reasoned, at least it would help her buy time. Maybe she would even be able to convince Bauji to change his views about the absolute necessity of getting married before the age of 25. And then once she would have "broken up" with Arnav as per the contract she had signed with him, she would be free to do as she liked.

Yes, it was the only way out, she decided.

But before she could answer Bauji's question, the rest of her family piped in, because they clearly cared little about whether Khushi wanted to marry Arnav, and proceeded to ask him about what he did, what his salary was, whether he had his own house, and a whole host of other questions that Khushi felt embarrassed even listening to.

Arnav must have been embarrassed too, but he began to patiently answer their queries, and something in the steadfast manner in which he was supporting her, made Khushi's heart swell with tenderness and affection.

She looked at her Bauji and said, "Yes, I would like to marry him." She did not have to pretend to be sincere.

awesome... they wouldn't even know and marriage will happen ..lol

Hmm...so mohabbath barsa dena thu

Nice twist.. Loved the update..

Oh man this is hilarious. But now with the ladki waale here, the engagement ceremony is almost real. Although that will spell trouble in the future when they have to break it off.

Whatte twist.. Ha ha..loved this angle. And man isn't it fun when they are thrown off guard. He he he..

Superb update dear please update soon