Enigmatic Love-Arshi FF-Updated Note on Page 19 (Apr 26th) - Page 3

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OMG I'm so restless to know who she is

Interesting

Hi All, I uploaded Part-4 in two sections as it came out too long. Find them both below.

PART-4 (I):

Five days... five full days... It had been five days since he saw her.


"Why hasn't she come back?", he wondered sitting in the huge third floor patio , "She was supposed to be here three days ago", "Has something happened to her?"


Arnav panicked like never before. He threw the vase on the side table breaking it in vexation. Being the suave, disciplined businessman he was, he was always in control of situations... except this particular one.


Well, there is always a first time...


The revamping of Sheesh Mahal was almost done. His family were flying in today. "Nani and Di will be thrilled to see the developments", he breathed slow and deep, "I have to be in total control". While he sent two cars with Arjun to receive them from airport, Arnav stayed back at the Mahal to monitor last minute changes.


HP: Chote Saab, they are here


Arnav walked down the staircase leading to the grand foyer and with eager steps stepped out of the main entrance. He couldn't hold back a smile at the fascination in his Nani's and Di's eyes at the glory of the old palace.

Hi All, I uploaded Part-4 in two sections as it came out too long.

PART-4 (II):

That night:



Arnav stepped out into the front lawn late at night. He had slipped out of their bed chamber after Lavanya fell asleep. He hadn't been able to rest well from the past two days.

"A walk in the garden might help", he told himself.

It was a beautiful moonlit night, the waxing phase of moon, cool and white.

As Arnav completed his third round around the huge gardens, he met with the sight his mind was longing for from the past 7 days.

She stood absolutely stunning in her orange sari with beads shining like diamonds in the moonlight.

Arnav felt happy, relieved and... alive...

He marched forward in hurried steps towards her as she moved back with a mischievous smile.

"Where were you?", he bellowed. He was about to touch her hand when she shook her head negatively and moved further back into a tree.


"I am sorry Saab", she said looking straight into his eyes, "I have been wanting to meet you but I couldn't".

"Enough with the cryptic", he said trapping her on the tree trunk with his hands on either sides of her without touching her.

"Why couldn't you come before?", he tried sounding angry though his anger was melting down fast in the pleasant jasmine scent wafting from her delicate body.


"I came but you were busy... with your family", she said.


Arnav was stunned. "You could have at least met me for a second", he said exasperated, "You have no idea how I pined for you this week".


She looked astounded at his admission of missing her, "I came... I came... but I was late... again", she said with a pause.


"What do you mean again?", he stressed on the word. She lowered her head, her long lashes covering her eyes for a brief moment.

"Look, I was... I was disturbed... if... um... something happened to you", he blurted the truth out.

She instantly looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "you were worried for me?", she asked like a small child.

"Yes, I was... very worried", the complicated introvert businessman was replaced by a simple guy concerned for his girl.



She looked at him for a long time roaming her eyes on his forehead, eyes, eyelashes, the scar on his eyelid, the sculpted face, the prominent nose and the firm lips. Arnav knew she was checking out his features but stayed mute. He watched her as she admired him. They stayed for a prolonged period of time under the canopy of trees gazing at each other in silent adoration. The cool night, the mild breeze and the silver light of the moon added to the romantic aura of the setting.



Arnav moved his body closer to hers, dipping his head down, his lips very near to hers.



"No Saab", she said blushing profusely, "at least not now".


Arnav realized what he was doing and moved a step back immediately, closing his eyes, clenching his fists in frustration. He turned back to walk away from there but was interrupted by her call.



"Saab", she said looking down, "You did nothing wrong", "it's just that I want you to know me before... "

"Then tell me about yourself", he spoke curtly turning towards her again.

"I will Saab", her voice was soft and slightly choked

"Are you okay? What happened?", he asked anxiously noticing her tears.

"I am very lucky to have found you Saab... after a long time...", she spoke honestly at his concern for her, "It's just that I don't know how to tell you"

"Give it a try", he encouraged.

"I am scared you won't believe me", she said sadly, "And I am not willing to take a risk".


Arnav exhaled deeply.


"Can we sit on the bench over there?", she pointed to a garden bench with a backrest a few feet away under the huge mahogany trees.

"Hmm", he said while walking with her.

"Can you tell me about yourself?", she asked him as they settled down.


He chuckled at the irony of the question. "Everything about me is out in the open", he spoke firmly, "It's you that I have no clue about... including your very name..."


"Saab, don't be angry with me", she said her big hazel eyes pleading.


"I am not angry with you", he softened instantly, "I just want you to trust me. Anyhow, let's talk about something else", he did not want their conversation to get awkward specially since he got to meet her after a long time, he wanted to spend as much time as possible with her.



They spoke for a few hours about random things punctuated in between with long periods of pleasant silence. They savored each other's company basking in the knowledge of unexpressed fondness.



With the first indication of dawn by the chirping of birds on the trees, she noticed that he was very tired and slowly dozing off with his head on the backrest. Smiling she got up to leave, without disturbing him, she drank in his handsome face and mumbled softly near his ear, "I love you Saab".




Three days later:



Arnav smiled at the sight of a naughty Mehak and a tired Anjali running behind her.


"I cannot tolerate her antics anymore", he heard his Di say.


"Look at the positive side of this Di", he said picking up the day's newspaper and coffee in each hand, while settling down in the couch next to Nani, "you might end up losing more weight".


Nani, Shyam and Lavanya laughed out loud.


"Well Chote", Anjali retorted, "May be in a couple of years I will see you doing the same behind your kids"


"Why would he do it Anjali?", Shyam said, "It would be his wife running behind his kid".


Lavanya blushed.



Arnav was immediately transported to the thoughts of a certain angel with big hazel eyes and a celestial face running behind his kids... no... their kids. The image brought an unknown gratification on his face.


He remembered how three days before, they spent the night together in the garden talking about mundane things when the experience was anything but mundane. To top it off, he recalled how she had professed her love to him assuming he was asleep. He had just drifted out of his sleep then due to the movement of the bench when she got up. He knew now he didn't have to follow her, she would come back... to him...



"What is that she is so scared to tell me about?", he contemplated.




That evening:



Anjali and Lavanya had expressed a desire to explore the palace. The north-wing was not completely done yet but there was a lake behind the Mahal on the north side that looked breathtaking. As Mehak played in the garden near the lake with Shyam and Arjun watching her, Anjali and Lavanya walked in with Arnav admiring the rustic interiors. Arnav started making a note of the renovations to be done on his IPad as he walked around.



A few of the rooms were empty with old furniture and paintings having been moved into a big living area by the workers. The three of them entered the north-wing living room appreciating the antique goods. Anjali and Lavanya planned to take a few of them to Raizada Mansion in Delhi. While they were dusting, Arnav's eyes caught something interesting- the portraits of royal families and Zamindars that owned Sheesh Mahal since it was built in 1500s.

There was a painting of an exquisite damsel standing sideways in front of a mirror with her back to the painting but the face was clearly depicted in the mirror. With a beatific smile, robed in a rich blue woven silk sari adorned with jasmines in her hair, she looked like a goddess. The thing that stopped Arnav's heart was the uncanny resemblance of the woman in the painting to his mystery girl.

"It is her, no doubt", Arnav was shocked, "But how?", "What is her painting doing here? and how is she related to the Mahal?"



The answer stared right at his face. There was an inscription with a name and details underneath the painting.

'Khushi Kumari Gupta'

1720 - 1739 AD

The world slipped beneath Arnav's feet. This can't be true... No, it can't be...Arnav was flabbergasted...




...Part-5 on Page 9...

she died it must be her twin. she is not dead

Originally posted by: eishe10

Nice update😊

Interesting i like it apdate soon

I am hoping she is not a ghost. I thought so at first but is hoping it is not true and want them to be together. But he is married to La already. Wait to see what you are coming with.