The serene silence just absorbing the smacks of fingers on keypads was disturbed with a shrill of a sound.
Arnav looked at his digital clock tinkling away wisely at 2 am in the stark night as he typed furiously, finishing the last minute file work and details of the deal.
His twins shone in a dull excitement as he picked up his keys and laptop and left his cabin, the only sound of his heels clicking on the floor audible in the building.
He yawned widely leaning back in his car before giving a start yo the ignition to yead to Ayan's place.
Yes! He was about to start for the way to Ayan's house since it was about time to drop Khushi at the airport.
With him at the office and Ayan at home preparing for the domestic deal, Khushi had opted to travel herself to airport at night all alone. It was a poking pin to his butt as he jumped into the discussion and chose to order her to get ready so he can take her there. The small discussion had taken place in the evening when Khushi took an early leave to pack, she had huffed but he was not a saint to believe what she showed. He knew better that she felt anything but annoyance on his offer. A tired smirk took its place on his face while he latched onto his seat belt and twisted the keys round to start the car. In a few minutes was the SUV zooming on the roads of the big city, paving its way to a fruitful destination.
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"Damn it's so late!" Ayan muttered eyeing his phone which showed Arnav's number flashing and the time being 2:30 am.
"Yea dude where are you?" He asked him receiving the call at the earliest.
"5 minutes away from your doorstep. Expect me anytime."
"Sure. I'll go wake up Khushi.." he stood up closing the files midway.
By the time, he had reached from his room to Khushi's and opened the door to see his sister lying on her belly with her mouth opened and eyes closed. Her skin relaxed made Ayan rethink on his mutual decision to send her abroad. He didn't have a heart to wake her up, he kept looking at her sleeping form contemplating the consequences of either decision.
Walking till her bed, he sat beside her and felt her stir a bit sensing him. He smiled taking the bkanket off her in one swift move irking her. Her nose scrunched.
"Mmmhh" her arm stretched to collect back the end of the blanket but it was raised higher. Her face fell.
"Khushi wake up. You have a flight to catch at 6. And you dont want and wouldn't want to be late. How about to wake up and I make you a big muggu of hot chocolate?" That did the trick. Half of her sleepy lid opened as she sheepishly smiled to him. "Gee, go make it bhai" she muttered lazily slightly kicking him off his bed to close her eyes and have a quick nap before getting up to get ready.
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He stirred the spoon in the mug lightly when the bell rang. Keeping the sugar pot in the bracket, he pulled the knot of his apron and walked briskly to the door welcoming Arnav.
"Wanna have a bite?" Arnav cocked up an eyebrow. "You.. at this time of night? What..?"
"Breakfast!"
"..at 2:30 am?"
"I need to make it for Khushi. You want to have some?"
"Erm..no!" He grinned at Ayan who had smudged his face in the floor while making, what he guessed was parathas. "What about the papers I asked you t..."
"Aaayuuu bring me my Chocolate!" Arnav's soul sprang a little as they heard Khushi shouting from her room. Ayan smirked.
"She never gets any older" Arnav chuckled. "Do you really want her to?"
"No! Not at all." Ayan smiled away readying the tray and already on his way to her room. "Come along" he motioned Arnav.
Her mouth was shut as she saw two men entering her room, one following another. She trailed her eyes to the one behind, who looked jerkishly handsome at night with a black jacket on.
"Hi" she smiled receiving his immediately. "I'm ready.."
"No you are not!"Ayan brought the cup to her lips making her sit on the bed. "Finish this and the toast." Just as she was about to say something, he flashed his eyes at her. "..No! No bargaining this time. This toast should be inside your stomach by the end of this minute." He added sternly.
"Khushi come outside when you're done. I'm waiting." Arnav said.
Meanwhile a few days in office and a few outings, he felt no hesitation in calling her by her name or lightly flirting with her in Ayan's presence.
On another note, Ayan had gotten used to it too, he could see. He mused dumping her bags in his car.
While on the other hand, she stuffed the toast in her face and gobbled it down almost instantly, her stomach growling didnt spare anything.
Wiping her face with the napkin, she stood up picking her bag and phone in her hand. "Why don't you come to drop me too?" She pouted sadly.
Ayan came forward holding her shoulders. "I won't let you out of my sight then. I might not let you go. We might loose the deal. Arnav might as well have to look for a new COO and Finance assistant director. AR might loose its precious employees.."
"Okay stop!" She shook her head laughing as he took her in a hug.
"Bhai I'm just leaving for a few days. I'll come back alright?" She squeezed his hand in hers.
Ayan looked away. He feared her going away. Only he knew how he craved for her presence all these years, a support, a sister and a co-conspirator. Only his heart was familiar with the ache he felt whenever he heard Khushi crying at the other end of the damned phone.
Just as he had about to accept her presence, the bluddy deal of his own company was sending his sister away!
Khushi held his chin making his wet eyes look at her. "You moaning Mickey, dont cry. Find a new girl for yourself bro."
"I told you so many times to not to drop in your unwanted suggestions." He replied nonchalantly walking her to the door. She laughed cheekily side hugging him lightly.
"See you soon. And I wont let you down."
"Blinky promise?" He asked almost seriously making her eyes wide. "You.. you still remember?"
He laughed shrugging. A trivial memory hit them when Khushi used to close every deal and matter with a pinky promise while he moaned about it to be always pink not realizing it was not the color which essambled the promise. And it was the time when Khushi had asked him to add his fair share to their vocal agreement asking him to add his favorite color to it since they were twins and equal. He had gladly added blue. And a new avowal was labored as Blinky promise.
Her eyes misted as Ayan kissed her forehead. "Take care." She nodded quietly going to the car and seating herself inside.
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He peeked to her face lightly clearing it up off her little strands of hair as she snored lightly leaning back on the car seat.
The little swings she experienced in the car had made her sleep again and now they were sitting in the airport parking as she slept away and he kept on looking at her.
She moved making him pull his hand back. Her head lolled at the side and he held it on a reflex.
Cupping her head in his hands, he stared at her again, thoroughly.
To him, she looked enchanting at any time of the day, either sunny or the spreaded moonlight. Each of the time made her colors luminous, one through its shine and the other blemishing her innocence in its darkness making her shine. This was Khushi!
An aura and innocence amalgamated with the spice of her womanhood was an element he admired strongly, though unwillingly.
Her beauty stirred something inside him. The little swell of her cheeks made him smile in passion but his eyes darkened. Feeling his lips quivering under his gaze, he gulped while his head lowered on its own.
And he didnt realize when he dipped his head and kissed the corner of her lips making her eyes flutter open. He smooched her skin again, and again relishing the softness of her skin under his.
He could see her gulping as his eyes lowered to her neck when she pulled his closer as her hands held his nape protectively. It was a sign to him, he held his head up a bit to bore his gaze into her face to see as much passion as him. His lips neared her when all of it was broken by a single small tear which had fallen off her eye onto his hand.
The reality came crashing down on his as he saw her eyes now full open and misted as her head was still nestled in his hands.
He blinked a few times before straightening himself up getting his hands off her.
"Awkweird, isn't it?" She asked sniffing, toying with her phone as he nodded lightly looking out.
And suddenly head clashed on his chest when he expected it the least, a pair of arms tightly held a grip around him stunning him, her body shivering yet relaxed cutting her a little slack.
He cursed himself for being an A-grader asshole and falling into the web of her enchantment probably ending up hurting her. But he couldn't decipher if she actually minded his deeds..
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
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