Chapter 19
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"It is really simple. Kiss Me..", she said very casually while smiling ear to ear and shrugging her shoulders.
"WHAT?", he almost yelled, totally dumbfound.
"Kiss Me! Kiss me and you will understand that I am meant for you and you for me. That you are my Prince. It happens in every story."
"Khushi, stop being stupid.", he snapped.
"I want you to Kiss me. Right. Now. You said you will do what I told you. And how can you say I am stupid? I am very sad. Very, very sad. I don't want to talk to you. I feel like crying." Big pool of water settled in her eyes while she stared at him through her lashes with a cute pout, looking totally like a stubborn kid.
Worried and also amused, he softly explained, "Khushi, I didn't mean that. Don't cry..."
"Then, Apologise.", she cut him short.
"What? Why?", he didn't understand.
"You. Called. Me. Stupid. Now, apologise.", she commanded, as tears started to roll freely down her cheeks.
Involuntarily, out his mouth came, "I am sorry, Khushi. Now, please stop crying.", almost sounding like he was pleading her. "What am I saying? Why am I letting her command and order me around? No one, absolutely no one orders me. Ok, may be family but I get really mad even at them for doing that. Even Di. But why don't I get angry at her? Why am I this bothered by her tears? What the hell is wrong with me?", he thought more confused at himself than ever. His actions made no sense and his feelings seemed alien to him.
Breaking his thoughts, she eagerly asked, "Ok. I stopped. So... you will kiss me now? Or, if you are shy, close your eyes tightly and I will kiss you." Saying that she moved her face closer to his and he instinctively moved back with a jerk.
"Damn it! Khushi.", he muttered as he sighed deeply. Trying to compose himself and keep his brain rational, he softly questioned, "Khushi, this is crazy. Ok, let us take a step back for a second. Tell me, Why do you think I am your Prince?"
"Because...ummm... that night when I was walking back to cottage you gave me company, then later you saved me from the mob in the line. You protected me like my babuji said. Like a true Prince.", she innocently explained.
"Khushi..., that was different. Ok, if I am who you think I am you should know me, right? At least my name?", he asked, confident that he never told her his name.
She giggled and said, "That is a silly question. I do know you. You are Arnav Singh Raizada'. Owner of AR Designs."
Surprised and beaten, he babbled, "How did... how did you know my name? ... Oh! I see, Payal told you? Of Course, how did I miss that?"
"Nooo, Payal didi didn't tell me.", she smiled childishly with drowsy eyes and continued, "I saw you on tv, in college when Lavanya and I were having a huge argument about you. You know, she still believes you are a bad man but don't worry, I think I successfully convinced her otherwise."
"So, you don't think I am a bad man?", he asked, totally alert and curious.
And to his amusement, "Nope.", came her instant answer.
"Why? I mean, How can you be so sure?", he very badly wanted to know.
"Becauseee... I can look into your heart.", she said poking on his chest, right where his heart was. "You love your sister sooo much, which shows your family means a lot to you. You were worried about a stranger like me going alone at night, which shows you are generous. You helped me in the queue before I even asked for it because you have a good heart. So, How can you be bad?", she completed while tilting her head a little, giving a wide smile and raising her eyebrows as if she was stating a well known fact.
Just listening to her made him smile too. He had always heard people call him heartless, ruthless and arrogant till date but this was the first time someone actually called him loving, generous and with a good heart. And that someone being Khushi made him very happy for reasons unknown to him. He looked at her with mesmerised eyes as he had a silly smile still plastered on his face.
"Shall I tell you something?", she asked, almost in whisper.
"What?", he asked, still half lost.
"You look really good when you smile.", she spoke very honestly.
Really surprised by her comment. He looked at her with admiration.
"Can I tell you one more thing?", she sweetly requested.
"Ya, Khushi.", he said, giving his of course anytime look.
"I always wondered and wanted to ask you. Why do you look at me like that?"
"What? How do I look?", he questioned, cluelessly as he thought, "How does this girl succeed in catching him off guard every single time? She says and does such random things that it is always hard for me to access her." and sighed deeply waiting for the next random thing she was going to say.
"I don't know. But when you stare at me I feel very different, like you are looking deep down into my, like you are looking into my soul. I get goosebumps all over and my heart...", she stopped, blinking her eyes swiftly.
"Your heart??????", his voice filled with desperation.
"Ouch! My head", she squeaked, holding her head with her right hand.
His demeanor changed to that of concern in no time as he jumped next to her and held her by her shoulders as he asked, "Khushi, are you ok? Is your head hurting?"
She slightly nodded and immediately lost consciousness in his hands. Arnav shook her a bit while calling her name but she didn't move an inch. Concluding that it was better she rested for a while, he laid her down in the grass again and stood up to see if the cabin got any less crowded. But it was filled with even more people than before. He crashed down, ending up right next to her. It was nearly 10 minutes later when Khushi suddenly moved making him freeze. As he looked down at shocked, she moved a little, placed her head on his lap and fell back into deep slumber making his heart stop again.
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Arnav lost track of time as he sat there like a statue, making extra effort to stay as still as possible so that he didn't disturb her and all the while looking at her face which was glowing under the moon light. Sudden ring of his phone broke his reverie and he hurriedly picked it up before it disturbed Khushi more.
"Bhai, its me Akash. Where are you? I have been looking everywhere for you."
"I am close by Akash. How long are you guys planning to stay here?"
"Don't know Bhai. Couple more hours maybe."
"Then I will leave, Akash. It is getting late and I have a early morning meeting with UK clients. You guys carry on and have fun."
"But Bhai...You..."
"Oh! I forgot. Tell Payal that Khushi is with me. And I will drop her home. So don't worry."
"What? Khushi is with you? Payal is going crazy about her missing. Thank God! Bhai. But why is she with you?"
"Ok, Akash. You are in a party, go have fun... We will talk later. Bye." And he abruptly ended the call.
What else was he supposed to do. He foolishly informed him about Khushi before thinking things through. "Is this talking without thinking becoming a habit now? Damn It!", he questioned himself, pissed.
He looked at Khushi who was still lost in her slumber. "She is totally lost. She didn't realize she was drinking wine?? Seriously, what was she thinking? And why did she look so worried earlier?" Too many questions made place in his mind and he had not even a single answer. "She is a mystery. I know nothing about her.", he frowned deciding to do something about it. Few drops of water on his face brought him back from his thoughts. He immediately realized that it started drizzling. "What the? What am I supposed to do now?"
He bent down close to Khushi and patting her cheeks, "Khushi?? Khushi, can you hear me? It started to rain, we need to go. Right Now." Nothing. He let out a loud sigh and looked around thinking. Making up his mind, he got up, lifting her a little he placed her head on his left side near his heart and slowly carried her up into both his hands. And immediately Khushi cuddled in his arms, moving her one hand to hold on to his collar tightly. Arnav looked at her face which was just few inches away from his, amused.
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Arnav placed Khushi in the passenger seat and was about to move back when he realized that she was still holding on to his collar. Unannounced a smile crawled up onto his lips and he gently freed himself.
He was about to start the car when he heard her mumble something in her sleep. He looked at her intently without making a sound trying to listen to what she was saying but all he could understand was, "Bapuji... I miss... Why ... alone... Amma... Prince." and a lonely tear escaped her right eye, making its way down her cheek. Arnav's heart ached by looking at it. Even though he didn't know her much, even though he didn't know the reason behind that tear, behind her sadness, he wanted to protect her from all that was hurting her. "What is wrong?", he thought.
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They were almost half way to the house when Khushi opened her eyes and looked around. Arnav immediately realizing that she was awake said, "Khushi, are you ok? How are you feeling now? Does your head still hurt?"
And all he got for reply was, "I am hungry. I want to eat."
Little confused Arnav asked, "What?"
"I said, I am hungry.", she innocently replied with a cute pout.
Arnav was dumbfound. Taking some time, he asked, "What do you want to eat?"
"Gol Gappa and Ice cream.", she said with a big smile
"What?"
"Do you have some hearing problem? You are asking everything twice..", she complained.
Arnav was losing it. So he focused his whole being on driving. After nearly 5 minutes, Arnav found an ice cream vendor, who was packing up for the day. And Khushi immediately pointed two ice creams to the vendor.
"Both are of same flavor, Khushi.", he explained while sighing deeply.
"No, they are not. One is chocolate fudge and the other one is double chocolate. See! not the same.", she completed almost pushing her ice creams on to his face to see.
Too tired to answer, Arnav silently started the car while Khushi happily gobbled up her ice creams. He couldn't help himself but look at her from the corner of his eye. The way she was eating those ice creams amused him. Smirking at her, he asked, "You love chocolate ice creams?"
"I love anything chocolate.", she answered with a wide smile and added, "Thank You. And Gol Gappe?"
"It is too late, Khushi. I don't think we will find any at this time. What else do you like?"
"Me? Chocolates, Gol gappe, Jalebi...Wait? why do you want to know? I don't want to tell you.", she pouted.
With nothing to respond to that, Arnav just kept driving.
Almost 15 minutes later Arnav parked the car in the driveway of Sinha's mansion. He looked at Khushi who was asleep again. He got down the car and silently walked to the main door. Once the servant opened the door for him, he ordered her to leave, walked back to his car, lifted Khushi and made his way into the house. It was then he realized, that he didn't know where Khushi's room was? Thinking, looked at her as she held on to his collar with her one hand and slept comfortably in his arms. A small smile made it's way to his lips and he started walking briskly towards his room before someone saw Khushi in that condition.
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