1 | ArHi FF Resistance | COMPLETE - Page 51

Originally posted by: Heavens_Flower

Originally posted by: Heavens_Flower

Rash, come here... 🤗 (this emoticon is the breath stopping and bone crusing hug I am famous for...)

@Red, What a beautiful piece of writing... Once line and the whole state of Arnav is so eloquently described...

With you guys around I should stop speaking... 😭

I wish I can write like that...

Originally posted by: chotidesi

@Red: Yes, we do. Lots of fireworks, although I will say that it'll be slightly muted as they try to figure out this new found friendship thing. But I promise that the fireworks are faaar from being over 😈

Originally posted by: Heavens_Flower

Thank you 🤗

Originally posted by: Chokri_ASR

So lil sis...🤗

I gave you the 'HOT' scene you wanted...check...

I posted the update early since you were 'Hmph' hanging of a cliff...check...

Now its time you to surprise me...no? I want a update!! 😃

Khushi shifted over to allow Arnav to sit down next to her, looking up at him with a tentative smile.

He fidgeted as he sat next to her, impatiently staring at the rows upon rows of necklaces in front of them.

"How about this one?"

He pointed to the most extravagant necklace he saw, turning to Khushi questioningly. She shook her head, looking back down at the necklaces.

"Anjali prefers simpler jewelry."

"But it's her wedding. Shouldn't she have something fancier?"

"No, something more like this."

Khushi pointed to a simple gold chain. She glanced back at Arnav, only to find him making a face.

"That's so boring. She's young. Why does she want to wear something that only old ladies wear?"

Khushi glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest.

"It's simple and elegant."

"It's boring."

She huffed, looking back at the necklaces. Arnav spotted a diamond and pearl one, and pointed it out, only to have Khushi shake her head again.

"Is there anything that you do approve of?"

Khushi ignored him, continuing to sift through the jewelry. Arnav shifted uncomfortably, bored. It had been at least an hour, and they still hadn't found anything.

"Is Aman a good person?"

Khushi didn't look away from the jewelry, answering without hesitation.

"Yes."

"How did... he and Anju... you know..."

Khushi laughed quietly at his discomfort, ignoring his scowl.

"Anjali's harbored feelings for him for a long time. They would often spend time together planning the meetings, and well... she never expected he would reciprocate, but a year ago, he asked her permission to court her. And the rest, is history."

"Why does he want to marry her?"

Khushi looked at him incredulously, and he hastily corrected himself.

"I mean, does he have good reasons? He won't... hurt her, will he?"

Khushi smiled reassuringly, sensing the worry in his voice that he tried to hide. Arnav absentmindedly fingered a necklace, his eyes cast away from her.

"He loves her."

She said simply. Arnav looked at her for a long moment, before sighing heavily, trying to accept that his sister was growing up.

He scanned the necklaces again, his eyes falling on a simple strand of tiny pearls.

"That one?"

He started at the sound of her voice in unison with his, and whipped around to look at her. She was staring at him, surprised that they had pointed out the same necklace.

"Wonderful choice, Bhaisaab! This is a Basra Moti and gold necklace, one of the most popular designs. It's simple and elegant, and goes with everything."

Arnav nodded to him to pack it, not taking his eyes off of Khushi. They smiled at each other, looking away when the man came back, the smiles lingering on their faces.

*********

"Bhai saab, zara woh wala dikhaiye." (Show me that one)

Khushi pointed to the dark red sari above the last one they had just seen, her practiced eyes scanning the saris. Anjali kept aside the last sari, reaching for the new one Khushi had just pulled.

"Khushi, buy something for yourself too."

Khushi glared at her, adjusting the cloth over her shoulder and examining it critically.

"Anju, you buy something for yourself first. I can pick mine up whenever I want. It's your wedding, not mine."

Anjali opened her mouth to protest, but was silenced by a severe glare from Khushi. She sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead. The pile of saris was growing larger by the minute, and Khushi showed no signs of stopping.

Even Sakshi had given up and left Khushi to her devices, leaving Arnav behind to pay the bill.

Arnav leaned against the wall, watching Khushi with amusement. She was like a butterfly, flitting from place to place with endless energy. He was tired just watching her.

He had been dragged along on the shopping trip, since the driver had taken leave because his daughter was sick. Sakshi had implored him to drive them, and Arnav couldn't turn her down.

He was amazed by the fact that Khushi hadn't once thought of herself. She hadn't even considered looking at saris for herself, insisting that she could do it later.

Anju was clearly her priority, and he could see the affection between the two women. There was a closeness between them, and despite the fact that they weren't blood related, they were practically like sisters.

He was growing increasingly attracted to the bubbly, optimistic Khushi, and it was becoming more and more difficult to restrain his feelings.

She was smart, and he had come to enjoy talking to her. Even the silences were comfortable, and he enjoyed debating with her. She was astute, and never blindly supported anything.

While she was passionate, she was also poised. She had a deep sense of loyalty, towards both his parents and her country.

And she was beautiful. His hands itched to undo her hair, straighten out the waves with his fingers. He wanted to watch her tremble when he brushed his fingers against her stomach, hear the intake of breath and watch her eyes flutter shut.

He wouldn't have held back, but for the fact that she lived with them and that their views were so diametrically opposite.

"Brilliant minds that waste their time on movements like these."

"I think you need to actually spend some time in India before you make a judgement about us."

He sighed heavily, knowing that finding common ground on that issue would make it difficult.

Khushi wasn't the type to have a fling either, and this was certainly not England. It was much more conservative, and if he got involved with her, they would have to get married.

There was also the fact that he wanted to move back to England, and there was no way Khushi would agree to that.

It was better that he stayed away- or at least tried to.

He focused his attention on Anjali again, trying to push thoughts of Khushi out of his mind. He watched his sister fondly, delighting in the barely suppressed joy on her face.

"Khushi, my saris have been finalized. Now please, pick something for yourself too."

He could hear her protests, and shook his head. He knew she didn't stand a chance against Anju's determination, and silently observed as Anjali began to point to various saris.

They draped a muted blue sari across Khushi, standing back to observe it. She went to move in front of the mirror, the one he was standing directly across from. The color did no justice to her vibrance, unbefitting of someone like her.

But he couldn't give his opinion without seeming odd.

He glanced in the mirror, only to meet her eyes. She was looking at him questioningly, and he could see the imperceptible tilt of her head, asking whether he approved.

He shook his head minutely, taking care not to attract the attention of the other customers.

She smiled with relief, clearly holding the same opinion.

They reached for sari after sari, and she would glance surreptitiously at him every single time. She would disagree with him sometimes, and he would make a face when she put it in the pile she wanted, ignoring his opinion.

Anjali watched her brother and Khushi with interest, glancing back and forth between the two. They clearly thought they didn't have any observers, assuming that they were being subtle.

They weren't, of course.

She could see the silent looks they shared, the way Khushi looked for his opinion without fail. It was such a contrast from a couple of months ago, from the cold ice between them.

Instead, there was a slow, burning attraction, a flame that both of them were trying to smother.

She reached for another sari, glancing at Bhai out of the corner of her eyes. She immediately saw his breath catch, his eyes darkening as he stared at it.

It was a deep, emerald green, with delicate beading along the border. It was made of georgette, the soft fabric flowing and falling perfectly over Khushi as she placed it over her shoulder. The blouse was in the same color, the dark green contrasting with Khushi's pale skin.

She saw Khushi look at him in the mirror, their gazes locking. Khushi's fingers ran over the fabric, and Anjali could see the soft pink tinting her cheeks as Arnav's eyes swept over her appreciatively.

Anjali cleared her throat, hiding a smirk as the two of them hastily looked away from each other.

"Do you like it?"

Khushi swallowed, glancing back at Arnav quickly, who was suddenly very interested in the wooden counter.

His expression, the sweeping gaze that lingered just a little too long had all made her feel as if she was on fire, her nerves acutely aware of him. There was a growing, pulsing warmth in the pit of her stomach, and she knew that if she met his gaze, she wouldn't be able to look away.

She cleared her throat, trying to keep her voice calm as she responded, despite the fact that her heart was thudding against her ribcage.

"It's... nice."

Anjali nodded, keeping her eyes on Khushi. She watched as Khushi's hand hovered over the two piles, trying to decide where to put it. She saw her look at the price tag, her eyes widening.

Khushi looked at the sari wistfully, fingering the soft fabric.

She couldn't buy it. It was simply too expensive.

Steeling herself, she placed it in the no' pile, ignoring Arnav's shocked gaze. She smiled at Anjali, whose expression mirrored Arnav's.

She reached for a pink sari, handing it to Anjali.

"This one is the one I like the most. Shall we go look for jewelry?"

Anjali slowly took it from her, her eyes betraying her. Khushi ignored her, purposefully walking away as she shot Anjali a reassuring smile. Anjali thrust the sari into Arnav's hands before quickly following Khushi out, glancing back at the green sari Khushi had left behind.

Arnav stared after the two girls, his eyes straying back to the green sari. He couldn't shake the image out of his brain, picturing the soft cloth draped around her curves, the dark green against the flush of her skin.

On an impulse, Arnav walked over, stopping the man who was about to fold the green sari.

"I'll take that one as well."

"But sir-"

He gave him a glare, and the man silently handed it over, adding it to the bill.

Placing it carefully underneath the pink sari, Arnav closed the box, walking over to the jewelry store to join the women.

*********

Arnav stopped at the doorway to Khushi's room, glancing around nervously. He reached out, his hand hovering above the doorknob. His grip tightened on the box he held, rethinking his decision.

What if someone caught him? Was the note written in neat enough handwriting? Did he say the right thing? What if she took it badly?

He didn't know why he was so nervous. Arnav Singh Raizada hadn't been nervous when he had gone to England, nor when he had given his first job interview. He hadn't been nervous batting in the cricket match for the interschool championship.

But the idea of placing this innocuous box made him more nervous than he would have liked to admit.

He just had to do it. He had bought it, he would do it.

He determinedly pushed open the door, placing it onto the bed, before walking quickly out of the room.

He froze when he heard footsteps, glancing around the room to see where he could hide. He slipped behind a door, not wanting Khushi to see him in the room.

He watched as she walked up after dinner, exhausted from all of the shopping from earlier that day. She rubbed her forehead, pulling her hair up into a messy bun. He saw her turn around to grab her clothes from the closet, stopping still at the box on her bed.

She sighed heavily, biting her lip. He could hear her murmuring unintelligbly under her breath, clearly trying to break herself out of disappointment.

She opened the box, her face falling at the sight of the pink sari.

He could see on her face that she wished she had the green one, and waited impatiently in the shadows for her to lift it up.

She took out the pink sari with marked wistfulness, only to freeze at the sight of the dark green fabric underneath. She gasped, her fingers hovering above it.

Disbelievingly, she lifted it up, her fingers touching the fabric to see if it was real. Her brow furrowed in confusion, staring at the sari.

Arnav felt his heart swell at the glimmer of excitement in her eyes, the amazement that the sari was there. He felt his own lips pull up into a smile as he watched her finger the fabric, draping it over herself as she looked in the mirror.

Khushi stared at herself in the mirror, adjusting the fabric around herself.

She had told the man to take the pink one, hadn't she? Then where...

"Khushi! You got the green sari? I thought you had kept it away."

Arnav slipped further into the shadows, not wanting to be seen by Anju.

Khushi turned to see Anjali in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe.

"I did... did you add it to the bill?"

"No, I didn't."

"I should... I should give this back. It must have been a mistake."

Khushi got up to leave, and Anjali's eyes widened. She glanced over to where Arnav was hiding, before quickly stopping Khushi.

Arnav noticed his sister's subtle gaze, and realized that she had figured out who had given Khushi the sari. He felt his ears burn with embarrassment, noting the glint of amusement in Anjali's eyes as she turned back to Khushi.

"No, Khushi, someone has clearly kept it there for you. You shouldn't give it back."

Khushi looked at her strangely, staring down at the sari in her hands. Suddenly, it dawned on her, and she turned an accusatory gaze on Anjali.

"But... maybe it's not- do you know who kept this in here?"

Anjali had a small smile on her face as she turned away, shaking her head. She paused for a brief second just before she left, tossing a wink at the silhouette hidden in the corner.

She would figure it out herself.

Khushi watched her leave, clutching the sari in her hand. She sighed, glancing in the box to see if there was anything else. She picked up the piece of paper, a smile breaking out over her face as she stared at the scribble.

Khushi.

Arnav watched as she bit her lip, a blush rising on her face as she carefully placed the note down. She was turned slightly away from him, he realized, irritated that he couldn't see her expressions. He unwittingly stepped further out, trying to see the reflection in the mirror.

Suddenly, Khushi's eyes swept up, meeting his directly in the mirror. She gasped, her mouth falling open as she stared at him. Her smile faded, her breath quickening as she saw his reflection, clear as day in the mirror.

He didn't have the time to adjust his expression into the carefully collected mask he usually wore, and she was stunned by the satsified smile that played on his lips. He looked away in embarrassment, the cocky smirk resuming its place as he nervously cleared his throat and walked out.

She wanted to open her mouth and say something, to stop him and thank him.

But she simply watched him leave, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Arnav Singh Raizada had bought her a sari.

*********

He stood on a ladder, completely irritated.

They had been working the entire day, getting the house ready for Anju and Aman's engagement. He had been running around all day, picking up groceries, lecturing the cook, finding the decorations...

The list was endless.

He was currently putting up the thick, colorful garlands, teetering on the ladder as he put another one up. The man beneath him was handing him the flowers, tapping his foot impatiently as he hung them up.

He reached down again, but instead of the rough, calloused hand, he felt a softer, daintier hand. He stumbled in surprise, feeling a pleasant tingle shoot up his spine.

"Dhyaan se."

He looked down to see Khushi smiling at him, clearly amused. She was wearing a simple, lavender sari, the pallu tucked into her petticoat and pulled tightly around her to keep it from getting stuck.

She shook the garland, jolting him out of his reverie.

He took the garland from his hands, brushing his fingers against hers lightly. He heard the sharp intake of breath, pulling her hand away as if she had been burned. She stood nervously, fidgeting with her fingers.

He could tell that he had affected her, her eyes flitting about the room as she refused to meet his occasional glance. She silently handed him garlands, pulling her hand away as quickly as she could.

"Khushi!"

He saw her hand the garlands to the man, shoving them in his hands and walking away as fast as she could. He shook his head, smiling slightly. His task seemed a lot less mundane now, and he could vaguely see her running about, her hair flying everywhere as she got things ready.

He descended from the ladder, calling another worker over to sweep up the flower petals. He turned around to leave when he crashed into a small body that smelled vaguely floral. His hands grasped her shoulders to still her, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She winced seeing his impassive expression, worried that there was anger simmering behind it. She still recalled the last time she had crashed into him, the hatred and anger in his words.

"Don't you have eyes? Watch where you're going."

Steeling herself, she took a deep breath, spilling out an apology.

"Sorry."

Arnav was hit by the hesitancy in her voice, tinged by fear. He felt his stomach tighten guiltily as he recalled what had happened the last time she had stumbled into him, the venom in his words making his skin crawl.

He hated the nervousness in her eyes, the carefully placed wall that was there to protect herself from... him.

He made a decision, hardening his jaw as he stared down at her. He could see her shrink back from him, her arm twisting slightly in his grasp.

"That's not an apology."

She flinched at his tone, trying to take a step back. But his grip was too strong, and she was held firmly in place. She stiffened when he moved closer, his lips hovering just above her ear.

"If you really want to apologize, wear the green sari tonight."

He abruptly let her go, smirking at the shocked expression on her face as he turned around and strode out of the room.

*********

He tapped his foot impatiently as he scanned the room, looking for her. She hadn't shown up yet, busy helping his mother behind the scenes.

He hadn't seen her since that moment.

He glanced at his sister, unable to hold back the smile when he saw her.

Anju was practically glowing, her eyes sparkling as she tried to subtly look at the man standing beside her. Arnav could see the adoration in Aman's eyes, the way he couldn't look away from Anju.

Khushi had been right. Aman was perfect for Anjali, and their affection for each other was obvious to anyone watching.

He shook his head, rolling his eyes at the way Aman hung onto every word Anjali said, his expressions changing with her.

When she was laughing, his face lit up, his own smile breaking out over his face. When she was serious, he was too, his hand resting reassuringly near hers.

He was about to turn away when a slim figure caught his eye. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her, her dark hair streaming down her back in loose waves, a small, tentative smile on her face.

She was wearing the sari.

He tried to hold back the smile, but failed, a wide grin on his face. His eyes roved over her appreciatively, his eyes lingering on her, trying to commit the sight to memory.

The dark green contrasted beautifully with her pale skin, the pleats folded perfectly as they fell to her feet. She was wearing only a simple pair of golden studs, accompanied by a thin, gold chain. Her wrists were lined with a slew of glass bangles that matched the sari, tingling as she lifted a hand to brush her hair back.

A small smirk curved his lips as he realized that she had worn his gift to her, and he saw her blush, awareness creeping in. The look of satisfaction mingling with appreciation and something... deeper made the reddish hue darken, and she looked away, unnerved.

He watched as she slipped into the crowd, smiling graciously as she played the host. She was poised, laughing at all the right times and making people feel comfortable. It came naturally to her, and she didn't even realize how charming she was.

She could feel his burning gaze on her throughout the night, never leaving her for a second. Their eyes would meet occasionally, and she would quickly turn away, trying to ignore the quickening of her heartbeat.

Towards the end of the night, Khushi walked over to where he was standing, just next to Anju and Aman. They stood there in silence, smiling politely at the people who came up to congratulate the newly engaged couple.

"Apology accepted, Khushi. I think... I should ask you to apologize more often."

Khushi looked up at him in surprise, a bashful grin appearing on her face.

Anjali watched the couple out of the corner of her eye, smiling slightly. She had seen the dumbstruck expression on his face when she walked in, the way his eyes had lingered over her figure. She hadn't missed the hidden smile of satisfaction that she had worn it, or the way Khushi was trying to ignore the dark eyes that never strayed.

Smiling, she turned back to the man at her side. He gave her a questioning look, wondering why his fiancee looked so satisfied with herself.

Anjali simply shook her head, turning back to the next person standing to congratulate them.

She would have to make sure that green was a part of Khushi's closet from now on.

*********

Note: Surprise! Thank Di and Ruchi Di for this one, or there only would have been a teaser 😉 I'll try to update on Friday as well. I hope you liked it, and if you can, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

As always, please follow @ipkchotidesi or PM me your email for update notifications.

Love always,

Choti.