ipkknd fan fction- strangers arms

Strangers Arms

The day had gone from bad to worse - there were no flights left , Mohan had taken Nani out of town on some kind of emergency meeting. He couldn't get his car till the evening and now this - he had just made the train jumped on before it slowly pulled out the station - public transport at its best . Arnav was already in a foul mood even before his journey had begun - now he had to contend with this hot crowded carriage no where to sit . He would find the conductor and a few nicely placed notes would soon change his surroundings. It was going to be a long journey , he would be met three stations down the line by a car and chauffeur. Till then ... no wonder he always saw people hanging out of train carriages or sitting on the roofs it was cooler out here and less noisy.

"OYE -are you deaf ?"

Arnav was brought back to reality. A girl running alongside the platform with her arm outstretched - screaming at him

"Give me a hand ."

Arnav without thinking stretched out his hand - fingers almost meeting but not quite , the train began to pick up speed he though she wasn't going to make it . He grasped the rail hard and lent over as far as he could stretching like the rubber man , the girl knew if she didn't pick up her pace she was not gonna make the train -one final sprint she felt hands meet and grasp he pulled she leapt as the platform finished straight int a strangers arms .

Arnav felt a sense of elation the first thing to go right since the day began. A strong smell of jasmine tickled his nose - he had always loved the smell of jasmine . He had hold of a stranger in a bear hug - holding onto her tightly with one arm and the other on to the rail. Their well being relied on As he looked down all he saw was a slim figure of the girl a huge rucksack on her back and hair all over her face , which as the train gathered momentum was being blown away piece by piece ,strand by strand slowly revealing her face like a jigsaw coming together.

She had the most amazing hazel coloured eyes, looking down at her he could so easily lose himself in the depths of those eyes. She had a small pert nose and the most inviting rosy pink luscious lips . All in all those lips had a kissability factor of 10/10.

Oh this day was rapidly improving .

As soon as the girl had made sure that she was not going to fall of the train , it had been damm painful the last time she took the unwanted a trip like that. Oh why was she always so last minute dot com.

She looked up at the strangers face, with the small amount of space between them she put her hand forward there was only a hands width between them she held her hand out in friendship "Hi , My Bua calls me Sanka, My Didi calls me Prouble , My Babu ji calls me Princess , my Amma calls me ladli or Pagal and my friends call me Khushi. - whats your name or do you have loads like me ?"

Arnav struggled to bring his hand up to meet hers he just about managed to shake her hand in the small confines of space that he had "Arnav".

"Thanks for the helping hand and hanging on to me back there - going far i am I am going all the way to Lucknow to my Babu ji s house . Do you plan to hand around here all day or shall we find a spot to sit . Arnav looked as far as he could see there was a sea of people what spot to sit what was this girl babling about. " Hand On Arnav, there an opposite train coming your ... and the rest of her words were drowned out by the blare of the opposite train as it whooshed past, Arnav felt the hot blast of air rush past him if it hadn't been for the warning he might have been taking a ride with the other train right now . She seemed to know her way about so he replied "Lead on"

Khushi negotiated her way through the maze of people like a true professional as easily as he manouvred his SUV through rush hour traffic. All he kept hearing was Bhaiya Ji, aunti ji , Bhen ji and soon it was as though the red sea had parted there was a clear route for him to walk down .She seemed to stop to talk to every second person offering advice , opinions on conversations that were none of her business. This girl was really something else - did she know that she was not supposed to talk to strangers- mind you he was one to her. Soon he found himself at the baggage van. She saw the elderly looking guard and started talking to him telling him a long convoluted story that the engine driver on the south bound circuit was her babuji and he had asked her to find Chachu who was supposed to be the guard on this run. The story had so many twists and turns that even Arnav who was following it avidly lost the plot . Would he let them sit in the baggage van. The guard had lost the plot ages ago but didn't want to look stupid said if she was Babuji daughter she and her friend could travel in the baggage van .

Khushi took her rucksack off pulled out a mat and bag and a box sat down on her freshly made seat and pointed to Arnav " sit and lets have some food."

Arnav sat and watched on in disbelief , had got them through the maze of people and found them a secluded area away from noise and crowds and now had pulled out some food which not only smelt good but looked good .

Khushi shared her aloo Puri with Arnav . She stated that she never knew what the journey to Lucknow would hold so she always brought plenty of food along with her as well as water.

Arnav then asked her i thought your babuji was on the south circuit train so why are you going up north to meet him.

Khushi answered my babuji lives in Lucknow and makes mithai - you know he makes the best jelabi in the world second to me "

Arnav started to choke on his drink - " What do you mean your Babuji is a mithai wala - you just told the guard his job was on the south circuit and driver number "

"He would not have let us sit here otherwise and I cant afford to cross his palm with money so a little white lie never hurt anyone and I am going to feed him alloo puri and jelabi !"

"Unbelievable !"

"You on the other hand , you don't belong here your shoes are designer that laptop is an apple and your suit its not of the rack its designer - I mean who wears a suit in weather like this - Are you going to share the rest of the journey with me or are you on for an upgrade from my uncle ji- No wait let me feed my uncleji and by tonight i ll have us in a first class booth till we arrive in Lucknow in the morning .Are you going to lucknow or somewhere else - are you along for the whole journey or just a few stops ?"

Arnav liked Khushi , he wanted to stay and watch this unbelievable human being do more outrageous stuff . "Not sure -here's your Uncle ji .Khushi fed her uncle ji and had him eating out of the palm of her hand ,she knew about his whole family how long he had been riding the trains.She told all about herself and then a song came upon the radio in the background She asked if she could put it up and danced and sang her lungs out to batameez dil . The guard and Arnav watched on in disbelief she pulled uncle ji off the chair and made him dance with her till they were laughing so hard they collapsed into a heap.

Right Khushi you are a blessing to an old man but right now i have to go and do some work you dance with your young man now.I'll be back after I have done my rounds ok.

Arnav stared at her. This girl was unbelievable she had a spark about her that made made people like her. She was incorrigible.As the train finally pulled into the station she asked Arnav if he wanted a cup of tea . Arnav pulled out his wallet leave it for a minute let meget the tea that the least that i can do for you after you helped me catch the train. Khushi called a chai walla over then began to barter over the price of a cup of tea. The price settled teas poured Khushi paid the full price the Chai walla looked at her in disbelief just as Arnav did .Bhen do you not want your change -No Bhai saab I just wanted to make sure that i had not lost my touch -The chaiwalla smiled at her -you have not.

So Arnav where are you getting off ;dressed as you are you shouldn't be slumming with the likes of me you're a strictly first class air conditioned type of guy."

"He pointed to the open door -"air conditioning " and then to the make shift bedroll "First class seats "

Arnav realised that he had not enjoyed himself so much or let himself loose in so long that he was really enjoying himself .-He might just cancel the car and go all the way to Lucknow that was his destination and travel with Khushi . There was a lot to be learnt from her love of people and her trusting nature. Time to play truant. Have a day off work and see where it leads .