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FF: Pata Nahin chala kab pyaar hua
NOTE: I retain sole ownership of all these works of fiction so please do not reproduce or alter my work and claim it as your own.
Chapter 4:
Khushi could not move. Arnav's behavior was totally not what she had expected. She stood there for 5 minutes trying to stop her hands from shaking and for her heartbeat to return to normal. It did not work so she did the only thing she knew, she opened the Kulfi pot and ate off the entire Kulfi and then she was okay. She looked here and there to check if anyone had noticed this.
Shyam who saw the entire thing got angry. he did not want them to get near, he had to do something to get the misunderstanding stay so that he will find time to make Khushi realize how much he loved her. In anger he broke the kulfi pot and had to go to the bathroom to clean the mess.
Khushi walked back slowly. Her heart was still beating hard. She was dreading to go inside as her cheeks had a flaming red color on them. One look and everyone would know something had happened.
As Arnav entered the room, Di looked up and noticed the change. He was sad yesterday but today he looked really happy as if he found the world to be a pleasant place to be in. Maybe the fight he had with Khushi was over. They both usually fought like kittens. So when he came near her she asked, "Chotey, what is the matter, why are you smiling so much? Tell me."
Arnav looked at her and said, "Nothing Di, Its just that the weather is so nice." Di almost gagged, Chotey talking about nice weather? What was going on. Just then Khushi came in and looking at her flushed face, Di knew something romantic had happened between the two. So she did not push further.
Di took Choti on her lap and started to play with her, just then the sky turned darker and there was a thunder clap. Khushi got scared and ran to Di's side, and stood between Di and Arnav. As she did, Shyam came out of the washroom and said, "I better get a light. looks like it will be worse now."
A few minutes later, the lights went out and there was total darkness in the room, panicking Khushi clutched Arnav's arm and bit her lip. Arnav was worried about Di, He said, "Di are you okay?"
Di smiled and said. "Its okay Chotey, I am no longer scared, I am a mother now so I am stronger than before, I can take care of myself and my baby."
Arnav smiled at that, "I know Di, you have changed, you have become strong but I will always be there for you. For you, Choti and ...Khushi." Khushi could not believe her ears but then realized, he was saying this in front of Di. She could only see his outline and hear his voice but still she knew he was telling the truth. There was a conviction in his voice which she hadn't heard before.
As they all waited, Shyam came in with a candle, the reflection of the light made him look even more evil, Khushi grabbed Arnav's arm again. This time Arnav knew instantly why khushi was scared, so he slowly moved her hand and put his hand on her small back and then circled it around her waist in a firm grip... pulling her near him. This small gesture made Khushi feel so safe that she unknowingly rested her head on his shoulder. In reply he said, "It's okay."
Within the next few minutes the lights came back and Arnav had to remove his hand from Khushi's waist, while Khushi grudgingly moved away from him.
Arnav took a look at the time and realized he had spent too much time in the hospital so he told DI he would be leaving now. Di smiled and said, "please make sure you come back and take Khushi home. The weather is horrible now and you better drive carefully." Arnav nodded and looked at Khushi who was standing near the door and did not look very happy. He purposefully went to her and said, "I will be back in a few hours. Take care of Di and Choti. I will drop you home. And ...Khushi take care." His last words pained her. She nodded as Di was present and was pleasantly surprised as he dropped a kiss on her forehead before leaving.
Di smiled with happiness. Chotey was never a person to show affection in front of others but now he had changed. Khushi changed him and he was returning to the normal Chotey she knew before they had to leave Lucknow.
Shyam looked as if he would burst. Arnav was seeming to come closer and closer to Khushi. He had to do something about that.
As she saw him leave Khushi felt sad again. she thought, "why is he playing games with me. Why is he so endearing one moment and so aloof the other? And why was he so caring today? probably wanted to keep Di satisfied that their relationship was good." She sighed and went to DI and played with Choti while DI took her afternoon nap. She sat on the bed so that Shyam would keep his distance from her. She felt repulsed when she recounted their meeting on the balcony. What a characterless man he was. then she looked at Di who might have to go through a lot of pain when she would come to know the truth. And Arnav, he thought she wanted Shyam. How could he think so? How could she solve this problem without hurting anybody?"
"How do I solve this without hurting anybody especially Di." thought Arnav. He had to make sure that the grip that Shyam had on her was slowly but surely removed but how would he go about it was the question. Di loved shyam dearly and there was no way she would leave him unless she came to know the truth. It would leave her heartbroken and in distress which Arnav was not ready to make her go through. He thought for a long time till Aman came and said, "Sir, it is 6 o clock. Would you want me to stay further?" Arnav looked at him and said, "That's ok Aman. The weather is turning bad, Ask everyone to leave for today." Aman looked shocked but nodded outwardly. Arnav sir was changing!
The staff brought juice for Anjali while Khushi ordered tea. Shyam was nowhere to be seen. He left sometime after Arnav had left the hospital. Khushi was happy to see him go.
They were sipping their respective beverages when Arnav arrived. He walked straight in as always and Khushi who looked up to see the sudden entrance choked and spluttered on the tea she was drinking. Arnav immediately went up to her and patted her head slowly and asked her to look up, "careful, look up... there... are you okay now?" He asked with the look of real concern on his face. Khushi nodded.
She was taken aback with the worry that she saw on his face. It looked like he really did care about her. Then again there was Di in the room. She looked at him across the room, he was standing near Choti's small bed and playing with her. He looked at her too but with a smile. Khushi's heart melted. Maybe Choti's arrival was a good thing for everyone including Arnav.
It was 8 o clock when Di confessed she was feeling tired and would retire for the night. Shyam had yet not arrived. Arnav asked the nurse to be on duty while he came back. Di said goodnight to Khushi and slowly fell into deep sleep.
Arnav and Khushi walked towards the parking lot. They got into the car and drove. The raindros fell in intervals leaving a fresh feeling on their faces. Khushi kept looking at Arnav. He did not look angry, nor did he shout at her. He in fact looked very much deep in thought.
Arnav was fighting his feelings, his heart told him to tell Khushi about his feelings right away and be one with her but his head said, it was necessary that she not be told the truth. Khushi was impulsive and she might blurt away the truth to Shyam which might ruin his plan to bring Shyam back to square one where he needed him to be. And that was the same place where Shyam required Di more than anything else in the world. He looked at Khushi who was trying to figure out his changed attitude and he was enjoying her confusion.
He had wanted to do what he did on the hospital balcony, when she asked about the kulfi. Except he regretted that he could not do it for a longer time, he was afraid he might lose control. Her lips were so soft and inviting. For a moment there he had wanted to kiss her full fledged,...damn the world, ...damn shyam. She was his Khushi and he wanted to love her as much as he wanted to. He had the right!
Soon they arrived at her house. Khushi was still trying to figure out Arnav's behavior. The weather had taken a turn to the worse and it had started to rain a bit more heavily. There was no electricity in the area and the only lights were that of the car.
As Khushi got down, Arnav went up to her side to catch her hand. Khushi looked tired...she could not take this anymore. Just then there was a big clap of thunder which scared her so much that she screamed and hugged Arnav with all her strength. "Arnavji!" she said , "I am so scared."
She half expected Arnav to push her away and take her inside the house, Instead Arnav slowly put his arms around her and hugged her tightly, "It's okay Khushi, I am there now."
Khushi looked up to him, rain falling on her cheeks mingling with her tears. She asked, "Why are you doing this? Why are you playing this game with me? There is no one here to see if you really care for me or not. Then why this charade now?" Saying this she tried to move away but Arnav did not loosen his grip,"
You are right, there is no one here...We are all alone...so I think this would be the right time.." he said
Khushi looked at him puzzled, "To do what?"
He smiled down at her and said, "This...darling" and he brought his lips to meets hers fully and stopped the words which she was trying to say. Khushi wanted to move away and get angry but the touch of his lips were exactly what she had wanted all long since Diwali. What had happened in the hospital Balcony left her thirsting for more. This kiss would quench her thirst at least for now.
He kissed her slowly pulling at her lower lip, teasing her and fanning her want for intimacy. She replied by moving closer and opened her lips further inviting him. He was in control till that time but her response made him further his kiss and this time there was nothing soft and slow about the way he took hold of her lips and made them his own. Khushi could hardly breathe. Time passed as they stood there kissing and holding each other.
It was only when they heard the sound of a horn far off did they realize that they were on the road. They stopped simultaneously and moved a bit away.. looking at each other. Their lips swollen red and wet in the rain that was still continuing to fall. Their desires clearly written on their faces and the control they both were exercising on themselves to not go on further.
Arnav panicked, Khushi might have concluded why he had changed.. this was not what he wanted... so he quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards her house. He left her, standing dazed on the patio, while he almost ran back to his car and fled from the scene. Leaving Khushi stunned, pleasured and wanting more.
to be continued...
Please comment...
I am unable to post the links to the previous chapters here as I am a newbie...
Thank you all for your comments..
Your comments have been so encouraging and I hope you will like this one as well...
Cricket
Anupamaa
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