# 1 FF: THE SEED OF PASSION- Chapters 1 to 8 - Page 58

Originally posted by: sohara

Fabulous!

Arnav and slang! not bad!

Aww he is so enthralled by the sleeping beauty who couldn't wake her upand carried her in his strong arms. Chhoone ka achcha bahana.😉

Khushi wants to renovate RM as well. She seems still cherishes her childhood memory of Arnav.

So someone is actually behind Arnav. And he is Malik? Is he Arnav's uncle? and he is trying to mayhem him.

Originally posted by: arhi.sarun

cute update

Dil kyun ye mera shor kare, idhar nahi, udhar nahi, teri ore chale!

song credit: the sweetest friend cheesemad 🤗

Chapter 6

Coming Closer

Khushi opened her eyes to the chirping of birds on the tree outside her huge French window. She smiled and stretched on the bed. The sun was peering through the blinds. Khushi jumped out of the bed opened the blinds letting the morning sun light up her room. Khushi hummed a light tune as she brushed her teeth and stared happily at her reflection in the full length mirror.

She walked out of her room and headed straight to the kitchen.

"Devi Maiyya bahut bhook lagi hai! Chai piney se hi shuruaat ho jaye!(I am very hungry. Let me start with drinking some tea!)," she rubbed her hands and put the kettle to boil.

"Didi aap nashta karega? Humko bulaya kyun naahi? (Didi, will you have breakfast? Why didn't you call me?)" Bahadur spoke up from behind her.

Khushi turned around and smiled at Bahadur. "Koi baat nahi Bahadur. Tumhare sahib jag gaye?(Its alright, Bahadur. Is your master awake?)" Khushi inquired

"Haan Didi who to shubah shubah tehelne gaya! (He has gone for a morning walk!)" Bahadur answered, nodding his head approvingly.

"Wo to sirf toast aur juice piyega. Aap ke liye aloo ke paranthe bana doon ?(He will have only juice and toast. Shall I make stuffed paranthas for you?) "

Khushi head bobbed up and down in approval!

But too soon. Her phone rang and as soon as she connected, Buaji's loud voice boomed, "Arrey O Titaliya. Yaad hai na, aaj Shiv ratri hain! Tumhara upvaas hai. Shaam ke samay Shivji ke sar par doodh dalne ke baad hi kuchh khana!(Oh Titaliya, today is Shivratri. You have to fast today. You can eat only in the evening after pouring milk on Lord Shiva's head!)"

"What Buaji, I can't eat anything? Kuchh bhi nahi?!(Nothing?!)" Khushi pouted.

"Nahi! Paani bhi nahi! Payaliya bhi to upvaas kar rahi hai.Tumhe sabse badhiya pati chahiye ke nahi?" (No, not even water! Payal is also fasting. Do you want a wonderful husband, don't you?)"

Buaji was so good at emotional blackmail!

"Theek hai ! (Okay!)" Khushi said in a morose voice and disconnected the line.

"Good morning! What happened Khushi?" Arnav's voice at the kitchen door had a hint of worry.

Khushi turned around. Arnav was wearing a grey coloured track suit and was panting. His normally gelled hair was dishevelled and a lock fell on his forehead, making him look adorable.

Khushi greeted him with a pout, " Good morning Arnav! Buaji just cancelled my breakfast! I have to fast for the Shivratri pooja!(Worship of Lord Shiva!)" she made a sad face.

"What crap! What good will fasting do? Anyway..." he shrugged his shoulders, "The painters were supposed to come today. Shall I postpone that? Will you brain work be without food?" Arnav' s caramel eyes danced with amusement.

"I will be absolutely fine! Fasting is no big deal" Khushi scowled at him. " Let the painters come. By the way I have been putting my brain to good use. Last night I made a list of all the things I want redone. I will show it to you."

Arnav hid a smile, nodded his head and walked off.

The painters arrived in time. And Khushi and Arnav had an impromptu meeting with them at the breakfast table. Khushi lay bare her plan for revamping the hall.

Arnav was surprised at how good Khushi was at her work. Her ideas were out of the box, charming, yet essentially simple and workable. Arnav looked at her drawings. He was impressed.

He raised his gaze to her animated face. Her excitement was reflected in her bright eyes and gesticulating hands. A strand of hair was falling into her eyes and she was constantly pushing it away with nimble fingers.

Arnav had this sudden urge to tuck it behind her ear.

He swallowed hard and got up with a jerk.

"I must leave for office now. You guys get going," he said to no one in particular and before Khushi could say anything to him, he made a quick exit.

"Ajeeb hai!"(He is strange!) Khushi muttered to herself, staring at his retreating back, "He did not even tell me if he liked my ideas."

In the office Arnav immersed himself in work . He finished off all pending and urgent matters and asked Aman to get him more files.

"But ASR it is four already. In this rush hour , it will take you at least three hours to get to the farmhouse!"

"So what? How does it matter, Aman?"

"The workers would have already left by then! Khushi wanted to discuss something with you. She has called thrice already."

"It's for her to manage all that. I am not paying her for nothing!" barked Arnav, jabbing open a file.

"One of those Boss in a bad mood' days!" Aman thought, rolling his eyes and left the cabin quietly.

Arnav had deliberately started late from office.

But now that he was on his way, each red signal, every delay in the traffic jam was getting on his nerves. He wanted to reach the farmhouse as fast as he could.

He was relieved to see the farmhouse loom up in the distance. But as he approached the gate, he was surprised to see it in dark. Was there a power cut he wondered. The moon slipped behind heavy dark clouds. The thick trees stood despondently, towering over the eerie silence.

And suddenly his heart started pounding. Was Khushi okay!

He left the engine on and literally jumped out of the SUV and ran towards the house, the headlights of the vehicle casting ominous shadows in the dark.

"Khushi? Khushi?"he called out in a hoarse voice as he ran inside .

There was no response.

"Khushi!" he cried again.

There was a faint sound of a payal at the top of stairs leading to the terrace.

Khushi?" Arnav peered into the dark, his heart thudding in his chest. He so wanted it to be her!

"Arnav! Is that you?" Khushi's voice was a relieved whisper.

And the next moment Arnav heard the soud of two bare feet running down the stairs, the melodious sound of her payal beating in unison with his heart.

A trembling Khushi flung herself in Arnav's arms.

Arnav wrapped his frame around her, holding her tight, burying his face in her hair, letting his feelings take over in the quiet dark...breathing again.

Khushi stammered,"I was so scared. Bahadur's gone down to the village. The lights went out...I..."

"Shhh! I won't let anything happen to you!" Arnav whispered softly.

She sighed deeply, as his solid warmth flowed into her numb veins through the soft fabric of his shirt.

"Wait here. I will go and switch on the generator," he said softly, trying to detach himself from her.

"No," Khushi clutched the lapel of his shirt. "Don't leave me alone. I will go with you."

A shaft of moonlight shimmered into the hall and lit her upturned face and pleading hazel orbs.

"Okay," Arnav whispered and intertwining his fingers in hers he led her to the outhouse.

Khushi followed him demurely as he led her carefully, instructing her now and then to watch her step over the loose rocks.

"Ab tum theek ho?(Are you okay now?)" Arnav asked Khushi as the lights came on.

Khushi smiled up at Arnav and said, "Hum theek hain(I am okay now). But very hungry!"

"What! You haven't eaten? Don't tell me! Since morning?" Arnav looked at her incredulously.

"How can I before doing pooja at the temple? Buaji will kill me!" Khushi grinned.

"Really Khushi! You are unbelievable! Get ready. I will take you to the temple now."

"You will! Khushi said excitedly.

"If that is the only way to make you eat, yes!" Arnav retorted.

"Okay. Give me ten minutes to get ready," Khushi. It was a good thing that Buaji had insisted she carry her best clothes to the farmhouse. She was feeling like dressing up today.

Arnav was on the phone with Aman, when Khushi emerged from her room wearing a simple orange saree with gold trimmings. Arnav gaped at her, oblivious of what Aman was saying on the phone. She looked lovely in the saree and the matching costume jewellery. She had left her hair open and was looking like a doll.

Arnav eyes were rivetted to her.

She smiled shyly at him, "How am I looking? "

"Uh huh, you look okay," he cleared his throat. "Let's go!" He turned abruptly and walked towards his car briskly.

He was already sitting in the car when Khushi slid into the passenger seat panting.

" You must be thinking I am stupid but do you know why I am doing this pooja ? " she asked him as he backed the car.

"I guess you will tell me anyway!" Arnav rolled his eyes.

"So that Lord Shiva grants me a wonderful, caring, and very handsome husband who shall love me very very much," she giggled.

A nerve in Arnav's jaw twitched.

"Really?" he mumbled.

-----------------------------------------

"Who is this girl in Arnav's life? He seems to be very attached to her," Ajit Mallik thundered into the phone.

"What girl? I have no idea." The man at the other end whispered fiercely.

"Do I have to remind you, you fool, as per my father's will if Arnav marries and has children, the entire property will go to him! And we will have to survive on the crumbs."

" Don't worry Ajit chacha(uncle). We are in this together. Arnav will never have any family except us. I promise you."

Shyam Manohar Jha hung up the phone, "I will have to return to Delhi! Saale sahib(brother-in-law) I will have to deal with you soon!" he banged his fist on the wall.

---------------------------------------------

The temple was situated in the nearby village which was about 20 minutes from the farmhouse. Arnav parked the vehicle outside the temple and gestured to her to go in.

"I guess you will not come in?"

"No you go ahead!"Arnav looked lost.

"Ajeeb hai!(He is strange!)" Khushi muttered as she got down carefully, lifting the pleats of her saree.

The place was bustling with worshippers but Khushi managed to do her pooja as Buaji had prescribed.

It was stuffy inside and as she emerged from the temple, she felt giddy. She felt herself swaying when a strong hand gripped hers and pulled her against a strong muscled chest.

"You are never to fast again, samjhi tum!" he growled into her ears.

"Arnav..." she whispered drowsily as he lifted her up in his arms and walked towards the SUV...

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