Posted:
Guys!! Thank you for the lovely response so far!! This story along with 'To Please One's Man' had to be done quick...but as you can see I'm nowhere near the end. But before I write the rest of the story with a calm mind, I need a break of sorts. I've got a lot on my plate right now, and going to have even more so in the near future. I'll post one more part to this and then if possible, one part for To Please One's Man before I take my break. Also, just to let you know, what I mean by break is, the updates shall come but won't be frequent at all. Hope you all understand and rest assured that I'll definitely finish the stories.
Hope you like chapter 7.
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Part 7
A few days after their father was back from the hospital and recovering, Payal, one night, had packed her clothes in a bag and left.
Khushi, who at that time hadn't been speaking to Payal, had seen her silently rise from their bed, pick her bag hidden under the bed and walk out into the darkness.
Khushi knew she should have stopped her, asked her where she was going, but she hadn't. She didn't want to care about her sister, she didn't want to know where she was going.
But she did sigh in relief when she heard a bike roaring off which meant that Payal had left with her boyfriend. At least she'd have an answer to give to her parents.
The next day their parents had calmly read the letter Payal had left behind, cried for the darkness that had seemed to be looming over their family, but hadn't said much. Khushi had let them know that Payal was probably with her boyfriend. Her mother, assuming him to be the father of the child, had prayed for the welfare of the family they were to start and said,
"Perhaps she'll remember us soon."
Arnav's mother, on hearing the news of Payal's departure, had been shocked at first. Then anxious. Then angry before letting it all out in tears. Khushi hadn't understood this reaction for her. In fact, she'd seldom understood Vinita Raizada's reactions to most things. Except perhaps, Arnav and his grandmother, no one in the house spoke to her with respect. Her daughter was the most disrespectful, followed by her husband. Devyani Raizada only spoke when needed and Arnav spoke generally less, but even when he did Khushi saw the the love and respect he had for his mother. It wasn't the same for his other family members.
Khushi hadn't ever mentioned into anyone, but once when she's been going upstairs to hand tea to Arnav's grandmother, along the way, with the door to Vinita Raizada's bedroom slightly open, she'd heard noises. She was young, but not stupid. She knew what a hand striking skin and a woman's cries sounded like.
This had shocked Khushi for she'd only seen Arnav's father locked in the office or the library, and in evenings, sitting in the family bar, ignoring the entire family. She was aware of Arnav's dislike for his father but she'd never taken him for the sort of the man who raised a hand on his wife.
That had been the first one of the big disturbing secrets she'd discovered regarding Mr. Raizada. The second one was when she'd seen him and Aman's mother together, a few days after Aman's suicide attempt. She'd become a regular at the Bedi's place then, and would often just walk in if someone took a little too long to open the door. That had been one such day when she'd walked in to, turned to head upstairs to Aman's room when she'd seem them. Hands on each other and lips kissing.
Slowly, she'd turned back around and ran back to the main door making as less noise as possible and headed home, too shocked and frozen to do anything.
For the entire night post that she'd thought whether to let Arnav and Aman know about this, and then, for whatever reason, had decided against it. Aman had told her casually once that he thought his mother was having an affair with someone, but he didn't know who. She wondered if it would hurt him to know that his mother was having an affair with their next door neighbour.
And Arnav had hated his father anyway, what was the point of telling him and making him hate him more?
But Khushi knew Vinita Raizada had a right to know, but she was servant's daughter. It was not her place to talk about such matters. Besides, Khushi soon discovered through the gossips that went around among the servants, that they all already knew about it, and that if they wanted their job secure, they must keep the matter amongst themselves. A servant had to be in his or her boundary and not try to overstep it, they'd said. That had stopped Khushi to take any step. She did indirectly serve the family.
But Vinita Raizada's reaction about Payal was certainly the most odd. It had made Khushi's thoughts wander into areas she hadn't waned them to.
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That night when she'd confessed her love to Arnav, she had made a decision. The following morning when she would have to hurry out of his room without being seen, she'd wake up before than me, get out of his warm hold without having second thoughts and tell him that they couldn't be together, that he had to remember that she is the cook's daughter, that it is impossible for her to be with someone who is classes above her and vice versa.
But he hadn't understood. "What? That's a stupid reason for a breakup," he'd said with sleepy eyes before wrapping a hand over her waist again and pulling her body to his again, "sleep now."
"Arnav, they are back. I just heard the car enter..."
Catching a look at his wall clock, he had sighed, but hadn't let her go. "Five more minutes." He'd snuggled into her some more, dropping a few kisses on her ear and neck.
"Arnav - "
"Just five minutes. They'll not come here." Her ear had been between his lips and then she'd felt his tongue and short, heavy breaths on her neck. A moan had escaped her lips feeling his wet kisses on the sensitive skin of her neck and his morning bulge poking her side. But she knew it had stop.
"Arnav - you have to stop."
"Don't leave just yet, Khushi."
"I don't want to but..." Another moan escaped her lips as a hand had slipped inside her jumper, to caress a breast.
"Please. We can't - "
"You're driving me crazy." He had replied, rubbing his erection on her side.
She had pushed him away. "My father is in the hospital, Arnav!" Her voice was louder than she'd intended it to be.
Tears had formed in her eyes as she'd adjusted her jumper and had got to a sitting position when she'd heard him say,
"Do you mean to say that I'm a sick, horny asshole who doesn't care that his girlfriend's father is in the hospital?" He had said sitting up.
"I didn't mean that," She had said trying to reach for his hand. She wanted him as much as she wanted him. "I just - it's just so complicated Arnav." He'd pushed her hand away.
Shifting closer to him, she had explained, "Arnav, please understand. My father had a stroke hearing that you and I..."
"Oh, come on..."
"I don't know, Arnav. It was right after Payal told them. I don't know how Payal noticed us but - "
"Just go."
"Arnav, please don't be like this," she had said shifting closer to him. Her voice was desperate.
"What should I be like? You want to break up with me!"
"I don't want to. But we...we must."
"We can't be together but you can be together with Aman, huh? Without even hiding."
"Arnav, baby..." She had pressing kisses on his cheeks as she had shifted onto his lap, straddling him, "It's not him I love. He's just my friend."
He hadn't been touching her, but she could feel him be affected with her plea and lose his fight.
"It's you I love," she had further said pecking his nose and lips.
"You wouldn't talk about leaving me if you loved me,"
"I'm not leaving you, I'm here...I'll be here. If you even need me, you just have to call out my name from your window..." She had quietened at that.
"And what, ask for cold coffee with ice cream?"
"Yes," she had said, fresh tears blurring her eyes.
His jaws had tightened at that. He had been about to say something when knocks had pounded on her door. It was his mother.
She had been about to get of his lap when he'd caught her hips. "We are not breaking up," He'd whispered.
"Arnav, please let me go,"
"First tell me you're not leaving me."
"Please understand, Arnav. Let me go," she said replied, struggling against his hold.
"So you're breaking up with me?"
She hadn't replied to that, continuing to struggle.
"Answer me," he demanded, bringing her face close to his a little roughly. There were more knocks. His mother had been saying something too. Neither of them knew what.
"Y-yes. It'll be better for both - "
Bur before she could finish his lips had attacked hers. When he let her go, they were breathing too hard and fast to be able to say anything. But his hands hadn't been clutching on her hips anymore. Taking the opportunity, she had got off his lap and onto the ground, and was about to go to his balcony to make her way downstairs when he had pulled on her arm. His hold was rough, tight.
"I'm asking for the last time. Even my exams are about to start. Break up with me once and for all so that I can get you off my mind. I've to study for my boards and don't want to waste any time being bothered by you."
His words had hurt, but what had to be done had to be done. "We have to...break up." She had said tearfully.
He had let her go a little abruptly at that, but she didn't have enough time to cry over it as the knocks had increased, and she could hear his mother asking about where Khushi was. Throwing one last apologetic look towards Arnav, she had climbed down the back stairs from his balcony and ran back to the outside to shut the door and cry.
~~~~~~~
"Hello, Khushi?"
She had sat up straight on her bed. It was dark around and she assumed it was probably late in the night.
"Hello, Khushi, are you listening?"
She had tried to focus on the voice again. Pagal? Why was Payal calling her in the middle of the night?
"Payal di?"
"Were you sleeping? Is there anyone around you?"
"N-no. How are you?"
"I'm good, Khushi. How are you? How's ma, how's papa's health?"
Too flustered, Khushi had replied something incoherent, still a little dazed at having received her sister's call.
"I'm in the city only.." Payal had informed when Khushi had asked, "actually Khushi, I wanted to apologise for the way I behaved."
"Oh."
"I shouldn't have done that."
"It's alright, di. I'm sure you didn't mean it."
"I really didn't, I swear. Accha listen, umm, can you do something for me?i need help"
Khushi had signed. Of course, why else would her sister apologise to her? "What do you need?"
"Some money, actually. Not much...I just need to pay my rent."
"Uh...money.. Why don't you just come back? Ma papa have forgiven you, I swear they have. They'll even take care of the baby. In fact, they want you to get your boyfriend along. The house is small but you know there's always room for one more."
"I can't go back there, Khushi."
"Why not?"
"I'll tell you later. But please ask ma papa to arrange some money for me."
"Payal, you know with papa's hospital bills and all..."
"I thought, Vinita Aunty and dadi paid for that."
"They did but...now for all the medicines, papa doesn't want to bother them at all. You know, they don't even let him work now. So he just stands and instructs. Anyway, all that he gets now goes in busying medicines."
She was quiet for a while before she said, "you get to go to a good school, and get a benefit of going to a good college. They're saving for that, aren't they?"
Khushi had felt angry at that. Even Payal had the opportunity to got to a good respectable college, but she'd let that go. "Payal, he's sick. And you're talking about..."
But she had already disconnected the call. Frustratingly getting off the bed, Khushi had checked under her mattress. She had some cash which she'd got for as reward for winning in some inter-school choir and singing competitions. It wasn't much, but if she could find some more money lying around the around, she wouldn't have to bother asking their parents for it. She knew they'd get worried and more than, hurt, that Payal didn't want to come back home.
Khushi hadn't found money anywhere else, and didn't want to touch the places where their parents kept the saved money for medicines and other necessities. Sighing, she sat back on the bed.
She knew what she had do.
------
She hadn't stolen for a couple of years. And she had no plans of repeating it.
But it was only some money. And hadn't Arnav said that she could take money from him?
She knew that evening Arnav was at his tuitions. She was working in the kitchen and no one was at home. Even as guilt made her feel uncomfortable in the tummy, she entered his room. It had been some time since she'd been in his room. She missed that night every now and then. And missed his touch and his kisses almost every time she left herself to be alone.
It was painful, being away from him, especially since she saw so less of him now. His exams were found the corner and he was busy. Arnav had always been really particular of his studies and Khushi liked to think she'd drawn inspiration from him. It was funny to think like that, but it was the truth. If he scored in nintees in his exams, she wanted to too. Later, of course, she'd realised that perhaps she did that so that his mother could tell Arnav how well Khushi had scored, how his notes had helped her.
Sighing, she had walked over to his bed, lowered herself on it before trying take in his scent through his pillow, half lying on it. How she'd give anything to be in his arms.
Shaking her head to get rid of her thoughts, she'd walked over to his cupboard where'd he'd told her he kept his money and opened it. Taking the money she had turned only to see him standing by the balcony door, watching her intently. He always looked at her like that but, standing in his room now, it was somehow more intimate. She could feel herself warm up and wetness between her legs. She wasn't sure why she was feeling so aroused just with a look, that when she'd been caught by him. Again. She wasn't suppose to feel such a thing for him. She couldn't be with him.
But who she was kidding? Perhaps she'd come up here because she'd wanted to get caught again, because wanted him to talk to her again, be angry with her, tell her that everything was going to be alright if there's love between them.
The money had dropped from her hand. Sighing she had picked that up and explained, "you had told me that if I must steal money, it should be from you."
With a smile he'd leaned against the balcony door and crossed his arms across his chest. His eyes were red and movements a little slow. She assumed he'd smoked up, which he'd been doing a lot lately.
"Well, did I say anything about stealing? No, right? You can take my money, Khushi." I don't know what to do with so much of it anyway."
"I haven't stolen anything since you last caught me." She wasn't sure how this was important for him to know.
"I know. And it might sound stupid but I waited for you to come to my room to steal. It's good to see you today."
"Arnav - "
Walking towards the bedside drawer, she'd seen him collect some rolled joints and make his way to the poolside. His reaction to her was the most weird and she wasn't sure she wanted to leave just yet.
She wasn't exactly sure why she's followed him out but her mind and feet weren't in her control.
She saw him sitting on the lounge chair as she made her way and sat herself on it, by his feet, maintaining some distance.
"Why are you here, Khushi?" He'd said lighting up a joint.
"I don't know," she had rubbing her palms on her knees. She was so nervous.
"I don't see you at all these days."
"Ma has instructed me not come up to your room. So I don't leave the ground floor."
He'd leaned back at that with a smile. "And yet you're here today. Why Khushi, can't stay away from me?"
She had ignored that comment, "how's studies going, Arnav?"
"Good. I just have to give this bullshit exams and then a couple of months later I'm off for the states."
Her stomach had clenched at the prospect of not seeing him. "Will you be coming home?"
"Not much," he replied lazily. And then he looked sharply at her, "why, do you want me to?"
Tears forming in her eyes, she'd looked down at her feet.
"Answer me," he'd said, the joint dropping from his hand as he'd slid closer to her and took her hand in his.
"Yess. I want you to," she had said softly as she'd felt him caress her palm with his long fingers sending tingles down to the centre of her legs. Not being able to take the sensation, she'd thrown her arms around him to hug him tight. He had been shocked at first, but slowly his hand crept up around her as he held her close and started dropping kisses on her neck and slightly exposed shoulder.
"Why break up with me then?"
"Because...we can't do this Arnav," she had said, looking up from his chest and slightly pulling away to take his face in between her palms to stop him. "But it's so hard to stay away..."
"Then don't," he'd whispered just then. He had only been an inch away, their breaths were fanning each other's lips. And then, before she could help herself, she'd kissed him, and he her. Their hands had been on on each ofher's bodies, feeling, groping, pressing and their lips, nipping, sucking, biting. It was maddening, the kiss. So maddening that when they pulled back to catch their breath, they pulled each other back in and kissed again.
Then, when she'd been resting her head on his shoulder, as his hand was caressing her waist inside her top, he'd whispered, "let's go to the bed, Khushi."
The warning bells had rang in her head. What had she been doing there?
"Arnav, what are you - ?"
Taking her hand in his, he'd guided it to the bulge in his pants. "I miss you, Khushi. My exams would start soon and I won't be able to see you much, now that you're not allowed to. And then I'll be going away. Please." He had made her palm rub on his bulge as he'd hissed.
"But, Arnav - "
"Please, baby."
"I can't, Arnav,"
"Why can't you?" He was annoyed again.
"You know why," she had said.
When he'd looked back up at her, this time, his eyes were blazing fire. Looking away he angrily said, "Can't f**k the guy who loves you, but can f**k the entire school."
Her mouth had dropped opened at that. She hadn't been sure whether to be happy that he's just said that he loves her or be devastated for what had accompanied it. "What do you mean, Arnav?" she'd asked calmly even as she'd wanted to shake him and cry.
"That's why you'd bought the condoms, right? A pack of ten."
He'd looked at her then, head tilted, jaws tightened, his eyes questioning.
And then she had smiled at him and said, "et tu, Arnav?"
He hadn't replied as she'd continued,
"If you've heard that, you also must have guessed who's the school s**t these days."
Still no reply.
"Why, me, of course. No wonder that's all you ever wanted me for, to f**k."
Getting up, she'd added, "Take it back," as she'd pulled out his money from her pocket and threw it at his chest. He looked up at her. He'd looked hurt. Good, she'd thought.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment to sigh. "I didn't mean that, Khushi. You know it."
"I don't care if you meant that or not. Everyone already thinks that. How are you any different?"
"I'm sorry, Khushi. I'm sorry. I didn't -"
"Before you think you can f**k me for all the money who've allowed me to steal, I want you to know that I'll return it. With interest. I know the exact amount." And with that, she'd turned on her heel and left the poolside and then his room.
~~~~~
Hope you like chapter 7.
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Part 7
A few days after their father was back from the hospital and recovering, Payal, one night, had packed her clothes in a bag and left.
Khushi, who at that time hadn't been speaking to Payal, had seen her silently rise from their bed, pick her bag hidden under the bed and walk out into the darkness.
Khushi knew she should have stopped her, asked her where she was going, but she hadn't. She didn't want to care about her sister, she didn't want to know where she was going.
But she did sigh in relief when she heard a bike roaring off which meant that Payal had left with her boyfriend. At least she'd have an answer to give to her parents.
The next day their parents had calmly read the letter Payal had left behind, cried for the darkness that had seemed to be looming over their family, but hadn't said much. Khushi had let them know that Payal was probably with her boyfriend. Her mother, assuming him to be the father of the child, had prayed for the welfare of the family they were to start and said,
"Perhaps she'll remember us soon."
Arnav's mother, on hearing the news of Payal's departure, had been shocked at first. Then anxious. Then angry before letting it all out in tears. Khushi hadn't understood this reaction for her. In fact, she'd seldom understood Vinita Raizada's reactions to most things. Except perhaps, Arnav and his grandmother, no one in the house spoke to her with respect. Her daughter was the most disrespectful, followed by her husband. Devyani Raizada only spoke when needed and Arnav spoke generally less, but even when he did Khushi saw the the love and respect he had for his mother. It wasn't the same for his other family members.
Khushi hadn't ever mentioned into anyone, but once when she's been going upstairs to hand tea to Arnav's grandmother, along the way, with the door to Vinita Raizada's bedroom slightly open, she'd heard noises. She was young, but not stupid. She knew what a hand striking skin and a woman's cries sounded like.
This had shocked Khushi for she'd only seen Arnav's father locked in the office or the library, and in evenings, sitting in the family bar, ignoring the entire family. She was aware of Arnav's dislike for his father but she'd never taken him for the sort of the man who raised a hand on his wife.
That had been the first one of the big disturbing secrets she'd discovered regarding Mr. Raizada. The second one was when she'd seen him and Aman's mother together, a few days after Aman's suicide attempt. She'd become a regular at the Bedi's place then, and would often just walk in if someone took a little too long to open the door. That had been one such day when she'd walked in to, turned to head upstairs to Aman's room when she'd seem them. Hands on each other and lips kissing.
Slowly, she'd turned back around and ran back to the main door making as less noise as possible and headed home, too shocked and frozen to do anything.
For the entire night post that she'd thought whether to let Arnav and Aman know about this, and then, for whatever reason, had decided against it. Aman had told her casually once that he thought his mother was having an affair with someone, but he didn't know who. She wondered if it would hurt him to know that his mother was having an affair with their next door neighbour.
And Arnav had hated his father anyway, what was the point of telling him and making him hate him more?
But Khushi knew Vinita Raizada had a right to know, but she was servant's daughter. It was not her place to talk about such matters. Besides, Khushi soon discovered through the gossips that went around among the servants, that they all already knew about it, and that if they wanted their job secure, they must keep the matter amongst themselves. A servant had to be in his or her boundary and not try to overstep it, they'd said. That had stopped Khushi to take any step. She did indirectly serve the family.
But Vinita Raizada's reaction about Payal was certainly the most odd. It had made Khushi's thoughts wander into areas she hadn't waned them to.
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That night when she'd confessed her love to Arnav, she had made a decision. The following morning when she would have to hurry out of his room without being seen, she'd wake up before than me, get out of his warm hold without having second thoughts and tell him that they couldn't be together, that he had to remember that she is the cook's daughter, that it is impossible for her to be with someone who is classes above her and vice versa.
But he hadn't understood. "What? That's a stupid reason for a breakup," he'd said with sleepy eyes before wrapping a hand over her waist again and pulling her body to his again, "sleep now."
"Arnav, they are back. I just heard the car enter..."
Catching a look at his wall clock, he had sighed, but hadn't let her go. "Five more minutes." He'd snuggled into her some more, dropping a few kisses on her ear and neck.
"Arnav - "
"Just five minutes. They'll not come here." Her ear had been between his lips and then she'd felt his tongue and short, heavy breaths on her neck. A moan had escaped her lips feeling his wet kisses on the sensitive skin of her neck and his morning bulge poking her side. But she knew it had stop.
"Arnav - you have to stop."
"Don't leave just yet, Khushi."
"I don't want to but..." Another moan escaped her lips as a hand had slipped inside her jumper, to caress a breast.
"Please. We can't - "
"You're driving me crazy." He had replied, rubbing his erection on her side.
She had pushed him away. "My father is in the hospital, Arnav!" Her voice was louder than she'd intended it to be.
Tears had formed in her eyes as she'd adjusted her jumper and had got to a sitting position when she'd heard him say,
"Do you mean to say that I'm a sick, horny asshole who doesn't care that his girlfriend's father is in the hospital?" He had said sitting up.
"I didn't mean that," She had said trying to reach for his hand. She wanted him as much as she wanted him. "I just - it's just so complicated Arnav." He'd pushed her hand away.
Shifting closer to him, she had explained, "Arnav, please understand. My father had a stroke hearing that you and I..."
"Oh, come on..."
"I don't know, Arnav. It was right after Payal told them. I don't know how Payal noticed us but - "
"Just go."
"Arnav, please don't be like this," she had said shifting closer to him. Her voice was desperate.
"What should I be like? You want to break up with me!"
"I don't want to. But we...we must."
"We can't be together but you can be together with Aman, huh? Without even hiding."
"Arnav, baby..." She had pressing kisses on his cheeks as she had shifted onto his lap, straddling him, "It's not him I love. He's just my friend."
He hadn't been touching her, but she could feel him be affected with her plea and lose his fight.
"It's you I love," she had further said pecking his nose and lips.
"You wouldn't talk about leaving me if you loved me,"
"I'm not leaving you, I'm here...I'll be here. If you even need me, you just have to call out my name from your window..." She had quietened at that.
"And what, ask for cold coffee with ice cream?"
"Yes," she had said, fresh tears blurring her eyes.
His jaws had tightened at that. He had been about to say something when knocks had pounded on her door. It was his mother.
She had been about to get of his lap when he'd caught her hips. "We are not breaking up," He'd whispered.
"Arnav, please let me go,"
"First tell me you're not leaving me."
"Please understand, Arnav. Let me go," she said replied, struggling against his hold.
"So you're breaking up with me?"
She hadn't replied to that, continuing to struggle.
"Answer me," he demanded, bringing her face close to his a little roughly. There were more knocks. His mother had been saying something too. Neither of them knew what.
"Y-yes. It'll be better for both - "
Bur before she could finish his lips had attacked hers. When he let her go, they were breathing too hard and fast to be able to say anything. But his hands hadn't been clutching on her hips anymore. Taking the opportunity, she had got off his lap and onto the ground, and was about to go to his balcony to make her way downstairs when he had pulled on her arm. His hold was rough, tight.
"I'm asking for the last time. Even my exams are about to start. Break up with me once and for all so that I can get you off my mind. I've to study for my boards and don't want to waste any time being bothered by you."
His words had hurt, but what had to be done had to be done. "We have to...break up." She had said tearfully.
He had let her go a little abruptly at that, but she didn't have enough time to cry over it as the knocks had increased, and she could hear his mother asking about where Khushi was. Throwing one last apologetic look towards Arnav, she had climbed down the back stairs from his balcony and ran back to the outside to shut the door and cry.
~~~~~~~
"Hello, Khushi?"
She had sat up straight on her bed. It was dark around and she assumed it was probably late in the night.
"Hello, Khushi, are you listening?"
She had tried to focus on the voice again. Pagal? Why was Payal calling her in the middle of the night?
"Payal di?"
"Were you sleeping? Is there anyone around you?"
"N-no. How are you?"
"I'm good, Khushi. How are you? How's ma, how's papa's health?"
Too flustered, Khushi had replied something incoherent, still a little dazed at having received her sister's call.
"I'm in the city only.." Payal had informed when Khushi had asked, "actually Khushi, I wanted to apologise for the way I behaved."
"Oh."
"I shouldn't have done that."
"It's alright, di. I'm sure you didn't mean it."
"I really didn't, I swear. Accha listen, umm, can you do something for me?i need help"
Khushi had signed. Of course, why else would her sister apologise to her? "What do you need?"
"Some money, actually. Not much...I just need to pay my rent."
"Uh...money.. Why don't you just come back? Ma papa have forgiven you, I swear they have. They'll even take care of the baby. In fact, they want you to get your boyfriend along. The house is small but you know there's always room for one more."
"I can't go back there, Khushi."
"Why not?"
"I'll tell you later. But please ask ma papa to arrange some money for me."
"Payal, you know with papa's hospital bills and all..."
"I thought, Vinita Aunty and dadi paid for that."
"They did but...now for all the medicines, papa doesn't want to bother them at all. You know, they don't even let him work now. So he just stands and instructs. Anyway, all that he gets now goes in busying medicines."
She was quiet for a while before she said, "you get to go to a good school, and get a benefit of going to a good college. They're saving for that, aren't they?"
Khushi had felt angry at that. Even Payal had the opportunity to got to a good respectable college, but she'd let that go. "Payal, he's sick. And you're talking about..."
But she had already disconnected the call. Frustratingly getting off the bed, Khushi had checked under her mattress. She had some cash which she'd got for as reward for winning in some inter-school choir and singing competitions. It wasn't much, but if she could find some more money lying around the around, she wouldn't have to bother asking their parents for it. She knew they'd get worried and more than, hurt, that Payal didn't want to come back home.
Khushi hadn't found money anywhere else, and didn't want to touch the places where their parents kept the saved money for medicines and other necessities. Sighing, she sat back on the bed.
She knew what she had do.
------
She hadn't stolen for a couple of years. And she had no plans of repeating it.
But it was only some money. And hadn't Arnav said that she could take money from him?
She knew that evening Arnav was at his tuitions. She was working in the kitchen and no one was at home. Even as guilt made her feel uncomfortable in the tummy, she entered his room. It had been some time since she'd been in his room. She missed that night every now and then. And missed his touch and his kisses almost every time she left herself to be alone.
It was painful, being away from him, especially since she saw so less of him now. His exams were found the corner and he was busy. Arnav had always been really particular of his studies and Khushi liked to think she'd drawn inspiration from him. It was funny to think like that, but it was the truth. If he scored in nintees in his exams, she wanted to too. Later, of course, she'd realised that perhaps she did that so that his mother could tell Arnav how well Khushi had scored, how his notes had helped her.
Sighing, she had walked over to his bed, lowered herself on it before trying take in his scent through his pillow, half lying on it. How she'd give anything to be in his arms.
Shaking her head to get rid of her thoughts, she'd walked over to his cupboard where'd he'd told her he kept his money and opened it. Taking the money she had turned only to see him standing by the balcony door, watching her intently. He always looked at her like that but, standing in his room now, it was somehow more intimate. She could feel herself warm up and wetness between her legs. She wasn't sure why she was feeling so aroused just with a look, that when she'd been caught by him. Again. She wasn't suppose to feel such a thing for him. She couldn't be with him.
But who she was kidding? Perhaps she'd come up here because she'd wanted to get caught again, because wanted him to talk to her again, be angry with her, tell her that everything was going to be alright if there's love between them.
The money had dropped from her hand. Sighing she had picked that up and explained, "you had told me that if I must steal money, it should be from you."
With a smile he'd leaned against the balcony door and crossed his arms across his chest. His eyes were red and movements a little slow. She assumed he'd smoked up, which he'd been doing a lot lately.
"Well, did I say anything about stealing? No, right? You can take my money, Khushi." I don't know what to do with so much of it anyway."
"I haven't stolen anything since you last caught me." She wasn't sure how this was important for him to know.
"I know. And it might sound stupid but I waited for you to come to my room to steal. It's good to see you today."
"Arnav - "
Walking towards the bedside drawer, she'd seen him collect some rolled joints and make his way to the poolside. His reaction to her was the most weird and she wasn't sure she wanted to leave just yet.
She wasn't exactly sure why she's followed him out but her mind and feet weren't in her control.
She saw him sitting on the lounge chair as she made her way and sat herself on it, by his feet, maintaining some distance.
"Why are you here, Khushi?" He'd said lighting up a joint.
"I don't know," she had rubbing her palms on her knees. She was so nervous.
"I don't see you at all these days."
"Ma has instructed me not come up to your room. So I don't leave the ground floor."
He'd leaned back at that with a smile. "And yet you're here today. Why Khushi, can't stay away from me?"
She had ignored that comment, "how's studies going, Arnav?"
"Good. I just have to give this bullshit exams and then a couple of months later I'm off for the states."
Her stomach had clenched at the prospect of not seeing him. "Will you be coming home?"
"Not much," he replied lazily. And then he looked sharply at her, "why, do you want me to?"
Tears forming in her eyes, she'd looked down at her feet.
"Answer me," he'd said, the joint dropping from his hand as he'd slid closer to her and took her hand in his.
"Yess. I want you to," she had said softly as she'd felt him caress her palm with his long fingers sending tingles down to the centre of her legs. Not being able to take the sensation, she'd thrown her arms around him to hug him tight. He had been shocked at first, but slowly his hand crept up around her as he held her close and started dropping kisses on her neck and slightly exposed shoulder.
"Why break up with me then?"
"Because...we can't do this Arnav," she had said, looking up from his chest and slightly pulling away to take his face in between her palms to stop him. "But it's so hard to stay away..."
"Then don't," he'd whispered just then. He had only been an inch away, their breaths were fanning each other's lips. And then, before she could help herself, she'd kissed him, and he her. Their hands had been on on each ofher's bodies, feeling, groping, pressing and their lips, nipping, sucking, biting. It was maddening, the kiss. So maddening that when they pulled back to catch their breath, they pulled each other back in and kissed again.
Then, when she'd been resting her head on his shoulder, as his hand was caressing her waist inside her top, he'd whispered, "let's go to the bed, Khushi."
The warning bells had rang in her head. What had she been doing there?
"Arnav, what are you - ?"
Taking her hand in his, he'd guided it to the bulge in his pants. "I miss you, Khushi. My exams would start soon and I won't be able to see you much, now that you're not allowed to. And then I'll be going away. Please." He had made her palm rub on his bulge as he'd hissed.
"But, Arnav - "
"Please, baby."
"I can't, Arnav,"
"Why can't you?" He was annoyed again.
"You know why," she had said.
When he'd looked back up at her, this time, his eyes were blazing fire. Looking away he angrily said, "Can't f**k the guy who loves you, but can f**k the entire school."
Her mouth had dropped opened at that. She hadn't been sure whether to be happy that he's just said that he loves her or be devastated for what had accompanied it. "What do you mean, Arnav?" she'd asked calmly even as she'd wanted to shake him and cry.
"That's why you'd bought the condoms, right? A pack of ten."
He'd looked at her then, head tilted, jaws tightened, his eyes questioning.
And then she had smiled at him and said, "et tu, Arnav?"
He hadn't replied as she'd continued,
"If you've heard that, you also must have guessed who's the school s**t these days."
Still no reply.
"Why, me, of course. No wonder that's all you ever wanted me for, to f**k."
Getting up, she'd added, "Take it back," as she'd pulled out his money from her pocket and threw it at his chest. He looked up at her. He'd looked hurt. Good, she'd thought.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment to sigh. "I didn't mean that, Khushi. You know it."
"I don't care if you meant that or not. Everyone already thinks that. How are you any different?"
"I'm sorry, Khushi. I'm sorry. I didn't -"
"Before you think you can f**k me for all the money who've allowed me to steal, I want you to know that I'll return it. With interest. I know the exact amount." And with that, she'd turned on her heel and left the poolside and then his room.
~~~~~
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Indian Mythology
10