Arshi FS : Darkness and Light ~ Final Part up pg 9 - Page 3

The candle light brought into light the man sitting opposite Khushi. For the next few minutes, all that could be heard around them was the pitter patter of rain and the occasional thunder. While one was shocked with the alarming revelation, the other was entranced in the beauty of the other.

Arnav knew Khushi was beautiful. But the way the candle illuminated her face made her look ethereal. The play of light on her eyes made him wonder if those hazels had gold or green flecks in them. She sat there with her eyes wide, her hands covering her mouth, making a cute picture. His gaze roamed over her face memorizing each and every inch noting the play of emotions. First a look of shock, then disbelief, embarrassment and finally nervousness.

Khushi sat there shocked. Was it really her Handsome Hunk sitting right in front of her? No it can't be. "Were you then talking to yourself?" her mind mocked her. As the shock seemed to settle, she remembered all that she had been talking to him making her embarrassed. She wanted to dig a hole and hide there and never come in front of him ever again. But then to do that, she has to escape the magic web his eyes seemed to have cast on her. Khushi was the first to break their staring session her nervousness finally overpowering the trance that his eyes had captured her in.

Unnerved by his constant gaze, she cleared her throat successfully bringing him out of his trance. At the same time, a loud thunder resonated around making Khushi jump in her place.

"Hey Devi Maiyaa raksha karna..." she exclaimed.

Arnav realized the situation they were in.

"Khushi it is really late and your mom is so worried about you. Let us go home first."

"Hmmm ok..." She couldn't form a coherent reply other than this.

By the time they came out of the temple, the water level has risen to a much higher level than when Arnav had come in search of Khushi. If this was the case here, then Arnav was sure that there was no way to cross the low land area that was on their way home. Deciding that it was a safer option to stay back in the temple, he explained Khushi about the same.

Afraid of having to traverse the long distance with the darkness everywhere, Khushi wanted to accept his decision. But she was still apprehensive about staying alone with a stranger. Sensing her hesitation, Arnav reassured her.

"Khushi I promise to take you home safely tomorrow."

Though her rational brain warned her to not trust him, the sincerity in his voice made her to accept his decision. She nodded her head and went back inside the temple. They settled down again near the Devi Maiyya idol leaning on the adjacent pillars. Arnav lit another candle placing it in between them. He lit a diya placed in front of the idol to give additional light. Silence ensued with both of them not knowing what to talk. Wanting to apologize for all that she talked earlier, Khushi started.

"Hmmm... Woh..." Khushi was at a loss for words.

Someone for whom talking was just next to breathing, she was at a loss for words. Arnav though didn't mind this flustered Khushi. In fact he liked to see her this way. She made an alluring picture, biting her lower lips in embarrassment and playing with the ends of her dupatta. Arnav chuckled lightly, wanting to dissipate the tension that was surrounding them.

"Laad Governor eh?"

"Hmmm woh... I..." A delicious color of pink painted her cheeks. She fumbled not looking at him. Arnav smiled at the pretty picture she made. Khushi raised her eyes to look at him. Mesmerized by his smile that seemed so genuine, she let go of her inhibitions.

"Then what else can I call you? You never told me your name. And no one in the area too knew. And you do behave like a laad governor. You don't talk to anyone." Khushi finished, her tone slightly accusing as if not talking to anyone was a crime.

"Hmmm... So that is how you address me in front of others." Arnav said it as a statement wanting to know if she talked about him to others. If he was in her thoughts as much as she was in his. Now that he had started to talk to her, he accepted at least to himself that she was a constant in his thoughts. Arnav held her eyes captive in his.

Lost in the deep chocolate browns that threatened to drown her any moment, Khushi responded without thinking.

"What else can I do? I cannot address you as Handsome Hunk in front of others."

Arnav burst out laughing. He certainly did not expect this response from her. Khushi looked at him flustered. She did not mean to blurt it out this way. It was true that she called him by that name in her thoughts but saying that to his face right on their first conversation was not something she imagined in her wildest dreams.

Khushi averted her eyes from his face lest she do something more embarrassing. The wet hair clinging to his forehead made her yearn to run her hands through them; to check if they were actually as soft as they looked. The smile on his face making him look many years younger, vanishing the worry lines that seem to be etched constantly on his face.

Sobering up, he decided to clear the air with her. True he had ignored her but somehow her being disappointed with him didn't sit well with him.

"Khushi... I am sorry for all these days... I was wrong to have ignored you that way. I am really not a social person. I... Um... Sorry..." Arnav finished not knowing what else to say.

"No problem Arnavji... You can start talking now..." Khushi grinned at him a childish glee in her tone.

And that was followed by a happy session for Khushi and a grueling session for Arnav. She asked him about anything and everything that came to her mind. Khushi knew that it was wrong to question him this way but her curiosity got the better of her. She made sure not to dwell too deep on matters he seemed hesitant to talk about. Surprising both of them, Arnav answered most of her questions.

During a lull in the Q&A session that Khushi was so eager to continue, Arnav suggested Khushi to sleep for some time. Though she resisted first, the exhaustion due to panic of being alone in the dark temple and then the sense of security that Arnav's presence induced in her made her eyes droop shut. "He had brought light into this darkness" was the last thought in her mind as she drifted off to sleep.

Seeing Khushi sleeping, Arnav made himself more comfortable. As he relaxed, he started thinking of the happenings that seemed to have changed his life in the course of a few hours. He remembered the panic he felt on knowing His Khushi was missing. "What the" he thought to himself. When did she become His Khushi? His mind started questioning him. But it seemed his heart was on a mission to convince him that he felt something for Khushi. Not wanting to dwell on it further, he decided that Khushi did mean something to him. What it actually is, well he can make that decision later he convinced himself. He glanced at her to make sure she was ok. Recalling the conversation that had taken place made him to chuckle. "Paagal" He muttered to himself looking at Khushi who was trying to get comfortable on the cold floor of the temple. He was thankful that she was at least not wet.

His mind again drifted off to the Q&A session. It was easy to talk to her he admitted. He had not felt the need to hide himself. She exuded an aura of comforting warmth making him feel comfortable in her presence. Her genuine interest in knowing about various things and her way of listening to him as if his opinions really mattered to her made him open up to her. He had not known simple inane chatter can make him feel light. He felt his heart feeling light. The burdens he had been carrying on his shoulders did not feel suffocating for the first time. He closed his eyes and soon drifted off to sleep with her face glowing with a brilliant smile chasing away the darkness that threatened to surround his heart as the last thought.

A/N:

Dearies...

First of all, Thank you so much for supporting this TS.

There will be one more part to this TS. Please do let me know what you think about this part.

I couldn't reply to your comments. But I read each and every single one and they mean a lot to me. Thanks again buddies😃

I have written two OS. Please do take a look if you haven't read them still 😊

Nannav Mera Bhai *Why NK calls Arnav Nannav?*

The Talk *A Talk between Anjali and Khushi*

Next>>

With Love,

Hamsa😊