#2 Arhi FF : Limerence [ Completed ] - Page 5

Limerence : Part 9

The lawns of Grand Hyatt, Delhi were glowing with brilliance. The elite class of Delhi had been witness to the grand wedding of Mittal's eldest son, a few hours ago. There had been innumerous heartbreaks and lots of gossip travelling through the gathered crowd. Glittering jewels, loud laughter, constant greetings, bright colours and fake smiles... despite of being amidst a huge exuberant crowd, Arnav felt empty... hollow and a little left alone.

The past week was a whirlwind of activities with one ceremony after another. He had made sure that the arrangements were done to perfection, leaving his maasi and maasa to relax and enjoy their sons wedding. NK had been of great help and his excitement seemed contagious. He had dragged Arnav to dance at the sangeet, entertained him throughout the mehendi ceremony, where the boys had a ruckus of their own and planned a never-to-be forgotten bachelor party for Akash. Through these celebrations and the vivacious energy within them, Arnav had been swept away emotionally... bonding with his family like never before.

However, as the wedding was over and the elegant reception evening had begun, everyone seemed more at ease. It was the final part of this grand circus as he liked to call it, after which a new member would join his family forever. He knew that Payal would be welcomed with open arms into his family and she was blessed to have a mother-in-law like his maasi. Manorama, had love to give in abundance and Payal would be loved like her own daughter. Arnav was happy to see his family enjoying the festivities with gusto and their craziness had rubbed onto him for far too long.

In the last four days, he had been introduced to about two-dozen young women... his prospective brides... fake... stupid... greedy... and absolutely materialistic. Their mothers had pushed them towards him and the girls had shamelessly flirted with him, in the first meeting itself. Finally tired of faking smiles, he had pleaded his maasi to let him be and had pretended to be engrossed in organizing something or the other. Like right now he was looking over the buffet, making sure that the starters and cocktails had been served to the guests.

His gaze flitted towards the main stage at one end of the lawn, where Akash and Payal were greeting the guests politely. He smiled looking at the happy couple. Akash had been thrilled these past few days, enjoying every ritual to the fullest. Arnav knew that his cousin did not speak much, but his eyes and shy smile spoke volumes of his happiness at being married to the woman he loved. Arnav sighed as some disturbing images flashed across his mind... his father telling his mother about how much he loved her... and then her throwing that love back on his face.

His heart twisted in his chest, hoping that Payal was not like his mother. Even though over the years his perception of women was slowly and steadily changing... his maasi being the sole reason for this change... but he could not trust them whole-heartedly. His heart always lived in fear of a heartbreak and to avoid the despair that followed, he avoided getting emotionally involved with anyone. The two people he was closest to were Akash and NK and he wondered if it would have altered his opinions, had he a sister instead.

Arnav's gaze flitted across the gathered crowd and zeroed on a lone figure, who made him falter in his steps. He blinked his eyes a couple of times, to see if she was a mere figment of his imagination. She stood besides a couple of her colleagues, trying to look involved in their conversations. Yet, there was a certain rigidness in her stance, her face uneasy... just like him... feeling out of place in such a huge gathering. His eyes roved over her form, taking in the deep red saree and the shimmering zari work. It was the first time he had seen her in vibrant colours and just like he had imagined, it affected him like a thunderbolt... visually.

He noticed her gold jhumkis, which dazzled in the shimmering lights... a little hidden by her open hair. Her neck was devoid of any embellishment, making her look so fragile and beautiful. Her long lustrous hair sashayed as she tilted her head, trying to hear something over the loud conversations. Amidst the huge crowd adorning designer labels and tons of makeup... she seemed like a breath of fresh air... pristine... flawless and emanating happiness. His lips quirked up involuntarily, as he gravitated towards her... was it really Khushi?

"Hey," his husky voice startled her, as she turned around swiftly, to be greeted by a pair of warm, smiling eyes. "Hi," she smiled at him, fidgeting with her saree, suddenly conscious of her appearance. The couple of ARD employees, who always felt intimidated in the presence of their boss, made an excuse to move away from the now smiling duo. "So finally you made it to atleast the reception. Payal had been expecting you for almost all the functions... atleast that is what Akash tells me," he said calmly, even though his heart was racing in his chest, seeing her so closely.

Khushi could not take her eyes off the handsome man in front of her. He always looked dashing, but there was something altogether different today... with the crisp jet-black suit, the blue scarf around his neck and his perfectly gelled hair. His eyes were shining with happiness for his brother and she could not help but feel warmth creeping up her cheeks, being under his scorching gaze. Why was he looking at her this way? Taking a moment to focus on his question, she calmed her breathing and replied, "I know. She has called me about a hundred times this week, admiring and thanking me for her wedding lehenga. Every time she showed it off to her cousins or friends, their praises had to be immediately recounted to me."

She laughed remembering how excited Payal had sounded each time she had called her up in the past week and each time the conversation had ended with Khushi grinning like a school kid. Arnav's heart skipped a beat listening to the tickling sound of her laughter. Even though he had seen her laugh before, there was something magical and dreamy in the air today. Maybe the dim settings, the whole ambience of a fairytale wedding and the amorousness surrounding them, were making his mind conjure things that did not even exist. Thinking it best to distract himself, he asked, "Have you had anything to eat Khushi?" Should I call for a drink for you?"

She shook her head in denial, her jhumkis dangling at the innocent gesture as she replied, "No I am fine. I just arrived and wanted to meet Akash and Payal before I headed to the buffet." Khushi looked around and noticed that a lot of people around were now staring at them. She suddenly felt nervous and out of place, realizing that people would definitely be judging seeing someone like Arnav Sigh Raizada talk to a commoner like her. Arnav realized her predicament and read her thoughts as he glared at a couple of women whose eyes were trained on them.

Her face was so emotive... he could read her mind... every thought that raced across that pretty brain of hers. He laughed mentally, shaking his head at the direction of his thoughts. What was it about this girl that made him forget about everything else... made him a person he refused to be... made him want to talk more than he ever would... made him feel things that he never should? He looked at her again, as she fidgeted with her saree, trying bravely to mask the feeling of inadequacy, amidst this "so-called" high-profile crowd. Did she not realize how beautiful she looked... that her beauty seemed to fadeout everything else around her? Or was it just him, who could not take his eyes off her?

He was just about to compliment her, when they were loudly interrupted by an overzealous NK. "Hey K... K... G!! You are finally here. How long have you been around? And you didn't come to meet me? How could you? By the way, you look smashing Khushi. I cannot believe it is you... just two words... simply beautiful," he said animatedly, making Arnav's heart drop at NK's words. He suddenly felt like an intruder, intruding on a couple's conversation. He looked at Khushi's face, as she looked around embarrassed by this open praise. She mumbled a soft thank you, not really responding to any of NK's other questions.

Her gaze flitted between the two men in front of her. One who seemed to be bounding with energy and was looking at her with admiration, whereas the other who stood stoic, his beautiful eyes never leaving her face... with an inscrutable look on his face. These two cousins were poles apart from each other, in personality and behavior. Yet, both of them had played a huge part in making her life so beautiful lately. She could not help but smile back at them genuinely and said to NK, "I want to meet Payal and Akashji first." He nodded and held her hand, dragging her along with him towards the stage, leaving a silent Arnav behind.

Yet Khushi halted in her tracks... she didn't know why. Maybe it was seeing the crestfallen look on Arnav's face that tugged at her heartstrings. She pulled her hand out of NK's and walked back towards Arnav saying, "Will you not come with us?" It was such a soft and genuine request, asked with such innocence that Arnav didn't have it in his heart to refuse her. NK looked at the duo wordlessly, his eyes darting from one to the other... taking in their expressions. There was a certain tangible charge around Arnav and Khushi... something that seemed to be making the two, oblivious to their settings. He shook his head, clearing his haywire thoughts... cursing himself for reading too much into nothing... or was there something more, his heart queried!

Arnav, Khushi and NK walked over to the couple of the moment. Loud cheers and shouts were heard from the not-so-shy bride, as Khushi was engulfed in a hug with so much love and affection, that tears of happiness waited to leak from a corner of her heart that had been left alone for too long. A lot of pictures were taken and when the queue of people that wanted to meet the bride and groom, threatened to explode, Arnav almost dragged an enthusiastic NK and an embarrassed Khushi, off the stage. Soon NK had to excuse himself to meet a few of his friends, leaving Arnav and Khushi alone once again.

"After all that non-stop chatter, I am sure you must be hungry by now," Arnav teased as her eyes widened in surprise. It always amazed her, to see him joke around her. It did not suit his crisp, formal personality and he barely smiled amidst a large group. So, to see him converse so freely with her, only made her heart thud rapidly in her chest. She looked at him unblinkingly and admitted, "I am famished to be truthful. Actually in all the chaos of finishing work to reach here on time, I had skipped my lunch aswell."

Arnav frowned at the knowledge, knowing very well, how Khushi had been overworked in the last entire week, with Akash, Payal, NK and him being away for most of the time. Working with Neena wasn't very easy and managing a lot of Payal's pending work was taking a toll on her. Especially because she was a novice in the field of designing and for her to get a hang of things, would take time. "Come with me, Khushi and don't ever skip your meals, samjhi tum?" he admonished her like a child, holding her wrist in his and dragging her along with him through the gathered crowd.

She felt a shiver run down her spine at the warm touch. The roughness of his hand, causing a friction against her soft, fragile skin. Her heart was now competing with itself to make newer records of her speedy heartbeats, each time she was around him. So lost was she in her thoughts that she did not see him halt in his steps, as she collided into his tall frame. Her frail one clutched onto his back to regain her balance, as she looked over his side to see the reason for stopping abruptly.

"Arnav, where have you been? I have been looking for you. I wanted to introduce you to Mehta's daughter," Manorama said merrily, missing out the tiny girl hidden behind Arnav. "Aaarghhh!" Arnav groaned in frustration, at the idea of being introduced to another bimbo. "Maasi, please. I DO NOT want to meet with anyone's daughter... not atleast today. Everyone is enjoying the wedding and I want to too. Can we do this some other time?" he almost pleaded with his maasi, who was now looking at his hand, holding Khushi's.

Khushi moved to Arnav's side to see Mrs. Mittal talking to Arnav. She had seen her picture in NK's mobile, when he had shown her pictures of his many family outings. She smiled awkwardly at her, trying to snatch away her hand from Arnav's tight grip. He realized their position too and released her hand quickly. An introduction was necessary, as Arnav said, "Maasi, this is Khushi from ARD. The one Payal keeps talking about all the time." Manorama's eyes twinkled with excitement seeing the extremely pretty girl, who Akash would tease NK with... her eyes sparkling with hope of another wedding soon.

"Khushi, this is my maasi... NK's mother," he said softly, completing the necessary introductions. Khushi folded her hands politely in a Namaste, greeting the older lady. Manorama smiled warmly and said, "It is finally so nice to meet you beta, but I am very upset with you." Khushi was taken aback and creased her brow in worry, her mind scattering into a hundred directions, trying to think of a reason for upsetting Mrs. Mittal. Putting the young girl out of misery, Manorama continued, "I am upset that you skipped all the other functions Khushi. Considering you are a colleague and friend of NK and Payal, I would have loved if you would have been present for the sangeet and mehendi as well."

Khushi smiled in relief and turned to Arnav saying, "I think I will manage dinner on my own. I see Shreya and Neha around the buffet. You please carry on greeting the other guests." Arnav had the strong urge to refuse and tell her that nothing was more important to him at the moment that being around her. He felt more at ease around her, even though he was unaware of the reasons and was about to stop her when she turned to his maasi and said earnestly, "It was pleasure to meet you Mrs. Mittal and I am terribly sorry for not being able to attend any of the other functions."

Manorama had been noticing the exchange between Khushi and Arnav. She had never seen Arnav so at ease in any woman's company other than her. This girl Khushi, seemed special to all of her children and there was definitely something extraordinary about her. Brushing across these thoughts for later, Manorama replied to Khushi, "I will surely forgive you beta... but on one condition," she paused dramatically, making Khushi anxious again. Khushi felt intimated in the presence of anyone new and this was Arnav's maasi after all. Not for a moment the thought crossed her mind, that she was NK's mother first. How had she started relating everything with Arnav, was unknown to her.

"You have to call me maasi, just like Arnav does. Only then will I forgive you," she said, running a loving hand over her head. Khushi's eyes misted at the sudden treasure of affection she had stumbled upon and nodded heartily, "I will... maasi." Khushi took her leave from the duo, her eyes connecting with Arnav for a moment longer than necessary. That interaction did not skip Manorama's notice as she saw Arnav, look at Khushi's receding back... till she was lost amidst the crowd. Things seemed to be more complicated than seemed to the eye and now that Akash and Payal's wedding was over, Manorama knew that she would have to divert her focus to her other two sons.

Khushi kept checking her watch, time and again. She was getting late and did not want to worry her amma at any cost. Gorging on the delicious array of food, her eyes flitted around to clash with a pair of warm brown eyes. She was stunned for a moment to see Arnav gazing piercingly at her. Her hand halted mid air, as the morsel dropped into her plate. Had the air suddenly turned icy cold, as a shiver ran through her body? There was soft instrumental music floating in the air, the endless conversations ceasing to exist. She looked away for a fraction of a second, to focus on what Shreya was saying. However, within a moment she turned to look back at him. He was still gazing at her with that unfathomable expression on his face.

All he could see was the woman standing in red, her hair flying in the soft wind that brought chill to the monsoon weather. The high canopy had shielded them from unwanted rain, yet his mind yielded to see her drenched in the heavenly raindrops... like the first time they had met. Or was this the first time he was actually seeing her? She looked different, she felt different... he felt different. He could not take his eyes of her face, of her movements as her eyes widened in pleasure while tasting the scrumptious dishes. Her smile today was genuinely reaching her eyes and for the first time he felt his heart sigh in contentment. Lot of first times, were scattered all over this magical evening, that seemed to have altered something within him.

Khushi took her leave from her friends and colleagues, who urged her to stay back for a little more time, enjoying the festivities. NK specifically wanted to spend a little time with her, considering how engrossed he had been greeting friends and family all this while. However, Khushi felt unnerved and out of her closed shell, amidst this huge crowd and especially under Arnav's scrutinizing gaze. She made a move towards the exit and whipped out her phone, to dial one of the auto driver's numbers who would be safe to travel with at this time of the night when she heard a whisper close to her ear, "How do you plan to go back home?"

She turned around to meet with those tormenting eyes, which left her breathless in such close proximity. Arnav saw her flushed face and took a step back to let her breathe. The entire evening had seemed surreal and everything about him, his thoughts and feelings were completely uncharacteristic. "I am calling up my regular auto driver. It is safe to travel with him," she replied. His eyes rounded in shock and he said more sternly than necessary, "Are you insane Khushi? At this time of the night, in a city like Delhi, you want to travel by an auto... that too looking like this?" He made a hand movement, pointing at her figure, talking in sheer disbelief.

"Follow me," he mumbled and took her hand in his for the second time today. His quick long strides made her trip as she struggled to match with his steps. Opening the door at the passenger side of the car, he said, "Get inside the car Khushi." She stood rooted for a moment and replied agitatedly, "No. I can manage on my own. I have lived all my life doing things myself." He sighed, knowing force and anger would not make her see sense. He was by now, very well accustomed to her independent streak. "Khushi, please. The drivers are all busy ferrying our relatives to their hotels. Let me quickly drop you home and be back before I am missed. It's too late, Khushi. If not for your benefit, atleast for my sanity, let me drop you," he pleaded.

He knew there was something about her hesitance in being dropped home. He had encountered it earlier and even now he could see the worry clouding her face. Thankfully, after a moments thought, she did not argue and quietly slid into his SUV. Quickly walking over to the other side, he got into the drivers seat and started the mean machine. It was the first time they were in such close proximity, confined to a small space... especially after their first meeting in the lift. The mild smell of lavender wafted around him, filling up his nostrils. He sighed, all anger and frustration leaving him within seconds, as he turned to look at her.

Khushi was looking outside the window, staring blankly at the passing landscape. She felt anxious and worried once again. What if there was a repeat of what had happened a few weeks ago, when NK had dropped her home? How would Arnav react? And how was she going to face this embarrassment? A million thoughts gushed through her brain at a time, when she heard his soft whisper, "You look beautiful tonight, Khushi." She turned to her side, a delicious blush creeping up her cheeks. His hands tightened on the wheel, to stop them from wanting to touch her. "Thank you Arnavji," she mumbled softly as his heart sighed in satisfaction. It was the first time she had called his name tonight... Arnavji... another first for this magnificent night.

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Part 10