ARSHI SS: What's Cooking? - T#3|Last Chp (22) - Pg 1| Upd** 17/09/16 - Page 48

Arnav squinted at the bright sunrays, as his eyes tried to adjust to the unholy shine right in front of his huge French windows...wait? His bedroom did not have French windows...

He forced his eyes to open wider, when other things in his vicinity made him suddenly come alive...for example, a lush soft body snuggled into him...Khushi! He smiled with a lazy yawn as he looked down and found her glorious hair splayed all over his chest as she slept hugging him on his comfy couch in the living room

He pushed himself up a little bit and adjusted her body, so that her face was now turned more towards him. His hands gently lifted her sunlit hair and gently pushed it away from her face, as his eyes feasted upon the welcome sight of her pouting lips and long long eyelashes

"God, you're beautiful.." Arnav whispered the same words from the night before as his gaze swept over her petite from, before it came to rest on her bare legs, tangled sinfully with his, making him gulp at the hot burst of desire that shot through him.

He felt his breath catch as she shifted slightly against him, while she unconsciously rubbed her bare feet over his, making him curse at his body's reactions to her. He took a deep breath and thought of slowly getting up so that he could save himself from embarrassment if Khushi woke up and saw his state.

But as he tired to untangle himself from her, Khushi's eyes shot open and she nearly screamed before she realized it was Arnav next to her and not some stranger "Gosh...Its you...for a minute I was so scared" she said as her heart beats sped up looking at Arnav's early morning sexy stubble and mussed up hair...he looked so hot!

Shut up Khushi! She chided herself, when she saw Arnav's tense face. Thinking it was due to anticipation of her reaction to finding herself in his arms, she looped her arms around his chest sideways, and pressed herself into him, before dropping a quick kiss on his cheek

"Relax...I'm not scandalized to find myself with you in the morning...I woke up twice during the night and could not really take myself away from your arms..." she said filling Arnav's heart with warmth at her honest words as he quickly flipped her under him, taking her by surprise

Before Khushi could comprehend anything, his lips took over as they trailed softly on her cheeks...then her ears...and then her forehead...she closed her eyes as he left tiny kisses on her lids before proceeding to kiss her near the corner of her lips.

Her lips parted for more, but Arnav moved away and continued to kiss her across her jaw and then her neck...before his lips came to rest against the small hickey he had given her the night before...Khushi could feel the scorching heat of his lips and tongue and wanted nothing more than to get lost in his kisses

"Arnav..." she whispered, breaking his hardly there control as he held her by her waist before lifting his head to kiss her boldly on her pouting lips, his tongue delving right into the sweetness and heat that was all Khushi. She reacted instantly by holding him tightly by his shoulders while her legs wrapped themselves around his hip, making him suddenly break their kiss and push away from her

He sat down and scooted a bit away as Khushi took a second more to register his withdrawal...she got up to kneel beside him on the couch and looked at him in confusion "What's wrong Arnav? Did I do something you didn't like?" she asked him in all her innocence as Arnav turned around and pulled her closer to him, hugging her sideways

"No Khushi...its nothing you did...you are fantastic...but I just can't get enough of you...and...that is the problem...I'm afraid I'll push you for a lot more too soon in our relationship...I can't help but feel like a hormonal teenager around you" he said as Khushi understood his hesitation and felt her heart soar for the wonderful man she was slowly falling in love with.

She smiled and gently turned his face towards her with one soft palm resting on his cheek "Hey...you won't push me into anything I wouldn't want with you Arnav...I am sort of a traditional girl...at least I'd like to think so, and when we take our relation to the next level, it will be because I want it and am sure about it..." she said, trying to make him understand that he shouldn't feel bad for desiring her so much, when she herself felt the same for him

"And I will never regret anything that happens between the both of us...so don't think so much" she said before pulling his face closer and kissing him soundly, making his head turn around at her heated kiss "What was that for?" he asked as his tried to catch his breath...he loved it when she got all bold and hot

"It's for being such an awesome boyfriend..." she said before she got up quickly and pulled his t-shirt down to cover more of her exposed legs, making him chuckle "I don't think that matters now..." he said as Khushi pouted "I'm just making sure you don't pounce on me and make both of us lose our senses" she said as Arnav smirked at her cute expression

"Honey, you would turn me on wearing a burlap sack...so it really doesn't matter" he said as Khushi felt her cheeks turn red "Besharam...now get up and make me some coffee and breakfast...I have to go home and then come to work" she said as she ran to his bedroom, where her clothes were probably lying in the dryer after last night's wash

Arnav shook his head at his crazy girl's antics...she really was one in a million, and she was all his...now he only had to learn to keep his eyes, hands, head...errr...other things in control around he...Boy is he gonna have a tough time!

xxx

"So why did you come in late today?" Madhu asked Khushi who as if on cue, turned crimson as she finished stacking up the plates from the noon service "Uh...nothing, just had some stuff to take care of" she said when they heard a snort from the service end of the kitchen

Both women looked up to see that it was NK, who seemed to be pissed off about something and had been extremely moody and demanding towards everyone since morning, which was quite unusual for him on a slow noon service.

Madhu looked at Khushi in confusion who shrugged and got back to work "Maybe he's worried about the new job" she said to Khushi who kept looking away from Madhu, lest she gives up knowing the reason for NK's foul mood

After the gorgeous morning she had with Arnav, she did not want anything to spoil her day; but when she walked in an hour late than her usual time, the first person she saw was NK who gave her a very nasty look before marching off to the kitchen, leaving her feeling very bad

But she squared her shoulders and got on with her work, not letting his cold behavior get to her. After all, she wasn't at fault here and had nothing to feel guilty about.

"Where are you lost?" Madhu asked her as Khushi came out of her thoughts and looked over her shoulder at NK who was staring daggers at her "Hmm...nothing..." she said as NK walked over to their station in two angry strides

"I don't think you are paid to sit and gossip here...have you finished prep for the fish tonight?" he asked Madhu who was left shocked at his rude words "Excuse me NK...you don't pay me here...and if there is a problem, go and speak to ASR...I'm doing my job just like anyone else...Jeez...what's gotten into you man!" she said as NK threw down the towel he had on his shoulder in a burst of anger

"You or anyone else here need not worry about me...I'm so glad to leave this place!" he said as the rest of the staff stopped doing their work and looked at him in shocked silence, making him sigh and pick up the towel he had thrown down earlier

"Sorry guys...I'm just not in the right frame of mind" he said as he went back to his earlier work, further bewildering everyone "Yo! NK...is it a girl thing? Cause you acting like a man jilted!" one of the line cooks joked as NK turned his sharp eyes on Khushi

"Something like that" he said as Madhu giggled "No wonder you are acting like a looney! Chal I forgive you, but we need goss man!" she said as NK shrugged and continued with his work "Nothing to tell Madhu...don't want to spend even a second talking about people like her" he said as Madhu raised her eyebrows

"Whoa! Looks like someone really played you my boy..." Madhu said as NK turned around, his eyes boring into Khushi "You have no idea!" he said as Khushi looked at him angrily...what was wrong with NK? When did he turn so bitter...and if anyone should be angry and upset, it should be her...after the stunt he pulled last night, it was he who should be apologizing to her.

"Hey everyone! I have an announcement to make!" Akash's loud voice boomed in the kitchen as he walked in with Payal in tow. Khushi widened her eyes in excitement, forgetting about NK's behavior for a moment and focusing on the pair in front of her...were they finally coming out about their relationship

"Khushi" Akash said surprising everyone as Khushi found him walking towards her with an envelope in his hands. She quickly wiped her semi dry hands on her apron and took the envelope from him in curiosity

"Congratulations...you are now a confirmed employee of Perido and have also been promoted from your current job. You will be joining Sammy and Rajan for Mise en Place" he said stunning Khushi who was quite surprised and happy

She knew Arnav was going to promote her, but this all seemed so unreal now! She smiled at Akash and Payal, who hugged her as the rest of the team came to congratulate her "You totally deserve it! I'm so glad ASR finally gave you a better job. Now I don't think it will be long till you take my job!" Madhu giggled with the rest who were all happy for Khushi

"Or my Job" NK said from behind. He had not congratulated her and was standing with cold eyes staring at the crowd in front of Khushi "Well, she will do great in any job!" Payal said eyeing NK and his odd mood and tried to bring back the cheer in the kitchen

"This calls for a celebration!!" Everyone said as Khushi who was hurt by NK's cold words, shook herself out of it and joined in as Payal popped open a bottle of sparkling wine and someone else pulled out a box of pastries

Khushi looked around and told Akash that she wants to go and speak to Arnav and thank him as the rest went on to enjoy the goodies that were now being pulled out of everywhere for an impromptu celebration.

xxx

"May I come in sir?" Khsuhi asked in a brisk voice as Arnav looked up in amusement. He nodded as she walked in and stood in front of his desk "You can close the door Khsuhi" Arnav said as she shook her head at him

"Oh no...that would make things very personal for us...I came here to thank you for promoting me and confirming my employment" she said as he smirked and stood up with his hand outstretched "You deserve it Khushi, welcome to Perido" he said smoothly as Khushi shook his hand and pulled hers away slowly from his tight grip

"Um...Arnav...sir...I want to ask you something..." she said uneasily as Arnav looked at her worried face and nodded "What is it Khushi? Anything troubling you?" he asked as he sat down, lest he leaps across and pulls her on his lap...so difficult!

"Please don't take this the wrong way...but, I was wondering that if there was nothing between us...I mean, if we were not in a relationship and still had the same equation from before...would you have given me this promotion?" she asked in one breath, hoping he does not take offence

She could not make much of his mood as he looked at her with a pensive look on his face before he leaned back in his chair "Yes I would have" he said as she let out a sigh of relief...she knew he didn't lie but she had to ask him this

"Khushi what I feel for you will never change my professional opinion. I agree I was a brute to you at the start, but I have already told you why I was like that...Plus you always deserved a better role in my restaurant than the one you were doing and for that you got your dues...Perido needs hard working staff like you Khushi and my feelings for you have nothing to do with my decision" he said as Khushi smiled at him brightly and nodded

"Thank you sir...I...I better get back to work" she said as he chuckled "Yes you should...but...you will celebrate later with your boyfriend...isn't that right?" he asked her as she winked at him "We'll see" she said before she made her way out, only to walk right into NK who was standing outside ASR's office

"Took you quite long in there? Are you done thanking the boss?" NK asked her as Khushi took two steps back and walked away from him without answering, when his words stopped her in her tracks

"You are all the same huh! Sleeping with your boss to go up in life...God! I was so wrong about you Khushi...I thought you were different" he said as Khushi whirled around, but before she could say anything, Arnav who had probably heard the last part walked right up to NK and stood between him and Khushi

"What the f**k did you just say?" Arnav asked in a voice, so cold that Khushi felt a shiver run through her. Watching Arnav's face twist in anger and disgust, she wondered how she would calm him down now.

xoxo

PS: I know NK is acting like a total jerk...but he did just get his heart broken...however delusional he might have been...so I hope u guys cut him some slack...he's not a negative villainous character as such! :)

Today's recommended recipe is Baklava! I'm making some for Raksha Bandhan and Nigella's recipe is just perfect for it...we get filo pastry easily in a nature's basket or one of the speciality shops...so its pretty darn easy to make! and so so delicious! Check the recipe here

Todays Movie Recommendation : Last Holiday (2006)

This might not have too much food stuff in it...but some of the dishes shown are drool worthy! plus the movie is real cute! :)

Synopsis: The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) to reflect on what she realizes has been an overly cautious life. So Georgia withdraws her life savings and jets off to Europe where she lives like a millionaire. Upbeat and passionate, Georgia charms everybody she meets, including renowned Chef Didier (Grard Depardieu). The only one missing from her new life is her longtime crush Sean Matthews (LL Cool J).