Arshi FF#2:THE SEED OF PASSION, Chapters 9 to 16 - Page 60

Dear friends⭐️⭐️

As most of you correctly guessed NK😃 tapped Khushi's shoulder. What happened after that? Something unexpected! Read on!

Thanks for your likes and comments on the last chapter.🤗 Hope you like this one too.

His phone rang. It was Aman.

"What is it Aman? I told you I am at the Sky Diving Club." He barked at his PA.

"I am so...sorry ASR," Aman stammered sensing his Boss' anger. But continued courageously, "I would not have called you if it wasn't urgent, Sir!"

"Well, what is it?!" ASR rasped .

"Sir, I questioned Sheela on the basis of the information provided by the detective agency. She blurted out everything. She was paid handsomely by someone for spying on your deals in the office.The same person also ordered her to drug your drinks. The girls you met at parties were also planted as a part of a conspiracy to defame you as a womaniser." Aman stopped for breath. A sense of doom filled Arnav. "Who is behind all this, Aman?" he whispered, closing his eyes tightly, preparing himself for the worst.

"Your Chachaji, Ajit uncle..." Aman said , trying to keep the anger out of his voice.

For a moment Arnav did not react. Then a fury surged through his veins and rose to his head. He vowed to use this rage as a tool to peel off the masks of cunning from Ajit chacha's face! So Ajit hadn't changed! He was the same sinister and heartless person who had thrown Arnav and Anjali out of Sheeshmahal after their parent's death! In fact his designs seemed to be more evil than before! What was he upto!

Arnav clenched his jaw in fury and determination! He had to get to the bottom of this! And soon!

He praised Aman in a flat emotionless voice, "Well done, Aman! Keep this information strictly to yourself! I will talk to you later , but first I must warn Di

He immediately punched the speed dial button for Anjali's phone and waited impatiently as the repeated ringing of its shrill tone heightened his concern.

When the phone finally connected, he let out the breath he had been holding and charged, "Di what took you so long...?"

"Arrey Saale Sahab! Your sister has gone shopping and has left her phone in the house." Shyam's cheery voice sounded at the other end.

Arnav hesitated for a moment. Should he tell his Jijaji the whole truth, he contemplated. He did not want to create unnecessary panic. So he said,

"Jijaji, please listen to me carefully. As soon as Di returns home tell her not to sign any papers send by chachaji, or not to go anywhere if he calls her, in short not to have contact with him till I return home."

Sweat gathered on Shyam's forehead and the phone almost slipped off from his greasy fingers. How had Arnav found out about Ajit chacha? Did he also know that his Jijaji was in cahoots with his Chacha. Was Arnav playing a game with him?

"Jijaji? Are you there?" Arnav's urgent tone brought Shyam to his senses. He was well aware of Arnav's shatir dimaag and his wrath. He trembled. He tried to speak but no words came out of his mouth.

"Is anything wrong Jijaji?" Arnav sounded suspicious.

Words came tumbling out of Shyam's mouth, in mortal fear, "No, no, no Saale Sahab," he assured Arnav. "Don't worry I will definitely tell your sister that Ajit uncle is an evil man."

Okay, Jijaji." Arnav disconnected the line.

He raked his fingers through his thick hair and looked listlessly at the excited people on the lush green ground, hovering around their balloons with family and friends. He felt uneasy. Something was not right. He couldn't place his finger on it but he just had this gut feeling.

Where was Khushi! He ran his fingers through his thick hair. Where had she disappeared! He just wanted to see her. He wanted to know if she was safe. No reason why she shouldn't be, but...

Khushi was hurrying across the field with a document in her hand. She and NK had attained a last moment entry into the competition! She would throw the paper on Arnav's face! She had tolerated enough of his insults! No more!

She saw him at a distance! There he was! Laad Governor kahin ka! How dare he dump her at the last moment and replace her with that Lavanya Kashyap!

But as she approached him, she was shocked to see his face. It was pale and sad. He was deep in thought, running his fingers through his hair, his eyes bloodshot and restless. She knew at once he was in pain and distress. Something inside her melted. "Kya hua Arnav? (What happened?" she asked gently.

Arnav looked at her startled. He took a few steps towards her and was about to say something, then changing his mind growled at her,

"Kahan thi tum? (Where were you?)"

"Arrey, hum to...(I was...)" Khushi frowned. But before she could complete her sentence, Lavanya came up behind her and purred at Arnav,

"Darling ASR! The staff back there says I am not suitably dressed for the competiton!" She smoothed her figure hugging knee length white dress and put forward a shapely foot encased in a 6 inch stiletto!

Khushi gaped at Lavanya, her mouth forming a big O'.

Arnav looked at Lavanya and raised an eyebrow. "You will do," he gritted his teeth.

And then turning to Khushi, he ordered, "You go home now! Don't loiter around here!"

Khushi stamped her foot angrily. "Who are you to order me ? I am going up in a hot air balloon with NK! And we will beat you in the race!"

She waved the document under his nose.

Arnav was taken aback, but only momentarily.

"What the! You guys are in this too! And you seriously think you copycats will beat me in my race!" he guffawed.

"Oh! And your balloon will never take off Arnav because there will be four heavy weights in your basket! You, Lavanya and both your egos! That makes four!" Khushi smiled sarcastically.

"Did you hear that! She called me fat...a heavy weight!" Lavanya wailed.

Arnav glared at Khushi. And addressed Lavanya , "Don't bother La! Lets head for our balloon and show them that actions speak louder than words!"

He headed towards a red balloon with Lavanya hopping behind him in her skin tight dress.

"Huh! Bade aaye!" Khushi snorted after them.

She turned to find NK waving at her and gesturing towards a blue balloon.

Khushi shouted, "I am coming, you go ahead..." and moved rapidly towards the man with the checklist to ensure the new entrants were added to the list.

The man had his back to her and was speaking into his phone in a hushed voice. It was almost time for the contest to begin. The announcements were being made. Khushi looked at her watch impatiently

Suddenly the man roared into his phone, "I have told you.. I have taken care of the matter, haven't I? Trust me. ASR will not survive the fall!"

Khushi stopped dead in her tracks! What was that! What did the man say! ASR will not survive...!

"What did you just say? What will happen to ASR?" Khushi screamed. The guy hurriedly disconnected the line and turned. He was guilty, Khushi could make out. That look on his face said it all.

But he said in a calm voice, "I am sorry Madam. I can't understand what you are saying. And I don't know any ASR." A silly grin spread over his face.

Khushi gasped ! The man was lying again. When she had spoken to him earlier, he had recognized Arnav's name at once but now he was denying it! Khushi's heart started pounding loudly! Arnav was in danger! She had to save him! Raksha karna (Save him)Devi Maiyya!

She swiveled and ran towards Arnav's balloon at top speed.

"Arnav don't, Arnav, Arnav..." she shrieked as she ran helter skelter.

The loudspeaker blared. This was the last request to the spectators to step back as the competition would be flagged off in 60 seconds.

The countdown began. "60, 59, 58, 57...

Khushi's eyes darted here and there as she ran through the crowd. She spotted Arnav's balloon. Arnav was standing in the basket his legs apart, his hand on the lever, ready to lift off. Lavanya was acting coy, blowing flying kisses to everyone watching the show.

"No, no, no..." Khushi's breath came in shallow pants as she put pressure on her leg muscles till they hurt. I have to stop Arnav, I have to! Hayye Devi Maiyya!

"45, 44, 43...

Arnav saw her running crazily, waving her hands at him and muttered,

"What the!"

She stopped only when she bumped into the basket, rocking it and then looking him in the eye screamed,

"Can't you hear me, Arnav! Get off the balloon, dammit! Now..." she screamed, her voice trembling with fear.

Before Arnav could react Lavanya snapped, "Don't listen to her ASR! It is a ploy to make us lose the competition."

"No, it isn't!" Khushi shouted back in rage and tugged at La's hand vigorously.

La lost her balance and toppled out of the basket, rolling onto the ground, crying aloud.

"Khushi what are you trying to do?" Arnav roar rose about the noise of the flame burning inside the balloon

15, 14, 13...

There is no time to explain...I will not be able to save Arnav...my Arnav...Khushi thought numbly staring into his livid face.

9, 8...

Tears streaming down her cheeks, she held out her hands in front of her, her eyes appealing. If something happens to him Devi Maiyya, I will die. "Take me with you," she whispered as she did not have the strength to scream anymore.

He could not understand what she was saying. But she was crying, she cared for him. Arnav's eyes clouded with a strange emotion... he cared for her. All those harsh things he had said to her, they meant nothing...

Nothing seemed to matter anymore as he reached out to her and pulled her in his strong arms and placed a soft kiss on her cheek . She sighed and sobbed and hugged him as tightly as she could.

1, 0...And they were afloat.

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