ARSHI FF- An evening with U-Part-13 updtd Jan pg.4 - Page 3

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Khushi's jaw dropped at Arnav's presence!

She looked at Deepa and then at him, and Dev chose the very moment to say," Khushi! You alright sweetheart?"

"Who is he?" Arnav's voice boomed in the small living room of the Marwahs'!

Khushi felt panic rise within her, like before at the proximity of Arnav!

But then something slowly calmed her- a reaction and a realisation that told her, the man standing infront of her may be the love of her life, but he royally ignored her for years! She didn't exist for him so why fear!

She went stiff backed as he turned to Deepa and said," Deepu I am sorry! Were you worried for me?"

"The hell we were!" Came Arnav's reply before Deepa even could answer her!

Khushi turned to him and simply said...as if she was seeing him only then..."Hi ...er,...ARNAV!I don't see why you must be worried for me!"

Arnav was taken aback but quickly recovered and said," ...its past nine and Deepu was worried, now that, Akki is also travelling!"

"Thanks so much for your concern!"Khushi said so sternly that everyone present in the room knew...she was saying good night to him!

Arnav ignored the jibe and simply said," What are you so late?"

Khushi was already perturbed by his presence!She had a bad day on top of that! Owing to the bad evening she had earlier in the evening, she was in a yuk mood!All the things added up to her temper when she asked him," Whats it to you?What difference it makes to you whether I am late or early!"

Arnav narrowed his eyes at her insolence and growled,"It does! You are Akhils' sister and I am here so i would naturally assume its my responsibility!"

"Well! Let me tell you it is not! Khushi said thin faced!

Deepa barged in saying "Whoa guys!

Whats wrong with you two!

Just chill!

Khushi!

Why are you being so rude to Arnie yaar!

He is just concerned!

"Concerned my foot!"

Khushi muttered and saw Arnav's jaw tightening at her remark!

"Aaah! Khushi I will make a move! Be seeing you!" Dev smiled sweetly at her for which she reciprocated by a smile and a shy "Thank you so much Dev! I am sorry I had been a bother to you!

Hey no way you are a bother sweets!...ummm... but Let me check out if you can be one sometime...the next time we meet..." He teased her deliberately!

Arnav who stood watching the exchnage was seized by some feeling of rising rage! How dare she talked so sweetly to a stranger and so sternly to him her senior at school and whom she knew all her life!

"Deepa I will see him to the gate... "Khushi made to move!

"Not required! He is perfectly capable of finding his way!" Arnav said sternly!

Khushi opened her mouth to say something, but thought the better off it and kept quiet as Deepa's hand on her wrist tightened to the extent of snapping it off her hand!

Dev looked at Arnav curiously and said," Have we met before?"

Arnav simply said," Nope! ...and we wont in future too I think! Good night Mehrothra!"

Dev looked oddly at Arnav and then wished Khushi and went away!

Khushi turned to go when Arnav asked her coldly," Why were you late?"

She whirred around in anger and said loudly," None of your business Wadera!"

Arnav's eyebrow's drew into a frown at that and Khushi realised the slip! She inadvertantly talked like Maya!

To cover it up, she simply said,"Thanks for your concern! Now! Good night Arnav!"

Deepa was scandalised by both Arnav's and Khushi's behaviour and both were acting out of their leagues!

What was brewing! She wondered and then chided Khushi first saying," Khushi! Thats not the way you talk to Arnav! And You didn't tell us what kept you long! I was scared! Your brother left you to my care and ...yeah...I know"

Deepa raised her hand saying," I know you are grown up and all that... but... well we are together and I ...er...me and Akhil are concerned for your safety as you go for evening classes!"

Khushi felt bad for her friend! She hugged Deepa and said,' I am sorry Deepu! Actually today the classes were cancelled and since we had a project presentation scheduled...we all me...Sachin and Ravi sat at the cafe..you know the Dinaz'z thats stark opposite the college?... and were discussing!

A group of people came and they sort of...miss behaved with me... "Khushi said"...and when Sachin asked them to stop it, they started getting into an argument! So I asked them to leave and they dropped me at the station... I was buying a water bottle when they stalked me and thats when Dev happened by and he...er..a...stranger but well we got along well as he understood the situation and behaved as if he knew me...and dropped me just in case... they followed me... "She concluded her story!

"But... what took you so long?" Arnav prevailed!

Khushi felt like punching his nose off his face !

How dared he acted so proprieterally!

Deepa looked at Khushi making her obligated to answer! She grimaced and said, "woh... we just stopped by and had ...er...coffee as..."

"What?" Arnav was by her side and he turned her to him asking her," We were worried to death for you and you were having a coffee date with your new boy friend?"

Khushi lost her cool and yelled back," Who are you to put stops on me? I shall do what I want to"

" No you won't!" He said shaking her!

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"We look at credibility!" Khushi said breathing heavily! His proximity was something she could do without!

Arnav did not get her!

Khushi's heart fluttered in her rib cage as she thought of how he kissed her at the Wadera House!

"Credibility???" He asked! And then he laughed wickedly,"... believe me Khushi! If anyone of my age can be credible in this part of the world its me! I am worth...an empire which is..."

Khushi pushed at his chest and said," Credibility cannot be monetized! See! Thats what you do! For me credibility is something else!" She hissed!

Arnav pulled her closer and asked her his voice almost a whisper," What is it for you?'

Khushi lost the track of her thoughts as she looked deep into his eyes! They were pools of unknown depths that were beckoning her to drown into them!

She shivered inadvertantly and Arnav frowned and said," What is it?"

Khushi drew herself out off the sinking feeling and said bravely "...nothing ...er...why should I tell you?"

"Nope! There is something between you and me why do I feel it! And especially for the past two weeks?" He frowned!

Khushi thought she would have a herat attack!

No! This would be so embarrassing! She darted her eyes in search of some reply and said what came to her mind!" There was ...is... and will be nothing between you and me!

I am me!

And you are you!

It sounded so childish to her own ears, but she had learnt the lesson of her life at the Wadera House! And she had decided that the sooner she came out of her dreams the better!

She stepped back and said," And ...on ... the contrary I... think... Dev and me are ...uh...destined to be together!"

"What?" He pushed her away abruptly! You just met him like an hour back?

He could not believe it!

"So what! Sometimes its love...at..." khsuhi went on...

"Bull crap!" Arnav shouted and suddenly caught her arm and pulled her to him asking," What did he do? Threaten you or something?"

"Why...would he do that? We just met! We don't even have any history" She gasped...

"But we do!... don't we?" He asked!

"Yes! I do!"She thought!

But said," No we don't either! Remember I am Akhil's sister! Thats all and what and why are we talking all this when you have come here to invite me for your engagement!"

It all looked very odd to Khushi!

"Right!" Arnav said and saw Deepa walking to them saying," So you guys are here! Looking suspiciously at Arnav who simply shrigged and said,"I was just trying to talk her out of her misconception and winked at her which Khushi noticed and Deepa grimaced! Now wait till she makes a burger of her after Arnav leaves as it was she who had shared that with Arnav!

"So Khushi... my engagement is on this saturday... at 9 PM and ... ok! Better still I will have you and Deepa picked up at eight in the evening... as Akhil said he will directly come from the airport!"Arnav said as Khushi's jaw dropped!

"No ! We will make it on our own!" Deepa said as she was too dazed to say anything else!

"No Deepa! I want you both to come in peace and I shall call Akki and tell him you both are taken care of" He said and waved at Khushi and was gone before Deepa said,"your Coffee..."Holding out the tray...

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"Be careful in what you wish for Khushi! I seem to be in a mood to give just what you ask for!" Arnav almost whispered narrowing her eyes at her!

"Then what are you waiting for?"Khushi hissed!

"That bad huh?" Arnav winced!

"Tell you what! Let me just take a taxi and you enjoy your evening!" Khushi said moving past him...

"You came with me, you will go with me Khushi" He said sternly holding her wrist ina vice-like grip!!

"Says who?" She demanded trying to unwind his fingers from around her wrist!

"Says me!"Arnav said now holding her by her elbow!

"Oh! I forgot the great Mr.A.S.Wadera" She mocked at him!

"You know something called reverse snobbery?" Arnav asked suddenly!

"I want to go home!" Khushi said adamantly

"I shall drop you, when I have finished dealing with whatever bloody notions you have about me!" Anav said seriously!

" I have my own mind! So what's it with you! Why bother about me in the first place?" Khushi demanded!

"Lets say it matters to me!" Arnav said and saw her going still!

"Why is it so very difficult for you to accept that I can be normal like you all?" Arnav asked her.

"Coz you are not!" Khushi got back at him.

"HA!"Arnav said in disdain!

"Ha to you!" She spat back!

He gave a tug to her elbow and she flopped on to him her hair flowing in all directions and Khushi put her other hand on his chest to prevent herself from bumping into him completely!

"Who do you think you ar eto talk to me that way, judge me?" Arnav whispered his breath fanning her face

She was trying her best to come out of the dreamland she had built as a school kid which now as a sane woman she knew was a sham! There was no way she could be with Arnav! She had a reality check when she became Maya! They were leagues apart and she tried to correct herself by coming out of her self concocted fantasy world and stopped looking at him and all his actions with rose-tinted glasses!

Yeah she agreed to the fact that the bitterness showed, but she knew it was only for a while! She was hurting and her anger which was directed at Arnav actually, was anger on self for being such a crazy fool! She still liked him but now she knew it was just a whim... a school crush!

She might not mend completely but she would try! He was not the end of the world!

Arnav saw her face changing in its expressions and could not decipher much! He was shocked by his own reaction to Khushi! She was just Akhil's baby sister! But somehow, he realised that in the past two weeks after Maya to be precise, that it was important for him what Akhil and his sister thought of him! At first he attributed to his connect with Akhil and his family! But when Khsuhi accused him of being overbearing snobbish and insensitive, somehow it affected him! He Arnav Sayan Wadera who cared two hoots about anyone, suddenly was trying to justify himself to this... he looked at Khushi who was fuming at him...this girl!

"I want to go Arnav! Its late and Deepa will be waiting for me!" She said stepping back as he left her arm!

They were going nowhere! Hell he did not know where he wanted to go on the first place! Arnav wanted to make peace and he simply said," Listen I told Deepa I was going to pick you up!"

Khushi was shocked to know that!

"And why do I get that expression?" He enquired!

"Nothing" She said!

Arnav and picking her up from her college? Khushi don't again go back to the sham of your fanatsy land her inner voice cautioned her!

"I got there and found that you left already" He said!

"But why did you?" She asked.

"'coz yesterday you said someone was following you and I thought they might try today too!And moreover Akhil is out of town... so..." He paused for her to understand..

"Oh! But thats why we waited at the Cafe!Me and Dev...so that they don't get to know where I stay... I can take care of myself Arnav! I am a big girl now you know?You need not worry for my safety!" Khushi thawed a little!

Awe he was thinking for her safety!

"Oh Is it?" He asked snidely!

Khushi saw his expression change and got wild!

"Yeah! I had survived my parent's death and I got over..." She stopped herself in time from spelling out..I have gotten over you!

"Got over what?"Arnav did not miss her slip!

"Nothing!Please let's go!" She said!

"So there you are!" Lavanya's voice was carried over by the wind...

Khushi tried to spring apart but Arnav stalled her saying "Hi la come !"

Lavanya gave a dirty look to Khushi who flinched under her scrutiny as she immediately staked her claim to Arnav by looping her arm through his elbow saying," What are you doing here! Don't you check your mobile! I rang about hundred times and then took a chance and came here hoping to find you! And what have we here! Some private party between my fiance and some ..."

"LA! Thats enough!" Arnav was the first to speak!

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Khushi froze at the spot at which she was standing!

His question somehow seared through her heart, and told her no matter how much she tried to remain non-challant, she was affected by Arnav!

She was just fooling herself saying she was well over him and her childhood crush and she would move on with her life but in reality, she was actually wallowing in it and she was sucked in deeper!Talking about it was easier... dishing out gyan to everyone about how it is when one fell in love.../but living it? ...was pure hell!

She stared at him expressionlessly and gathered her wits around her and simply quipped," Lets leave its getting late"

"I asked you were you burnt sweety?" Arnav asked her walking towrds her!!

Khushi panicked as he walked towards her!

If he got to know... oh GOD!!! What...should she do!

She started walking without waiting for him and he took longer strides and reached her and whirred her to face him holdong by her elbow and said," I asked you something Khushi!

"So? Is it necessary... I reply?I am not in your employ!"She spat back in teh absense of any other defensive mechanism!

"Whoa! You sure were burnt lemm'e correct myself scarred! Is the right word isn't it?" He asked

"Let's go!" Khushi gritted her teeth!

"Nah! Lemme know what its all about!" He prevailed.

"None of your business!"Khushi said and tried to walk past him!

"He hurt you!" It was a statement from Arnav...not a question...

"Whatever... its me!I am much better than you! And you are welcome to your two-timing girl friend who has a kid tucked away and scheming enough to usurp your property in the name of a marriage!"Words came out of her mouth before she could exercise any control on her speech!

There was absolute silence with only the ocean making the mysterious noise of the waves lapping...

"How do you know?" Arnav narrowed his eyes!

"Forget it Arnav!" Khushi started walking again!

"No! Tell me!" He caught her by her wrist and stopped her!

"You are hurting me!" She said...

"No damn it! You are hurting me by talking and acting in puzzles" He yelled at her!

She was taken aback and flinched, making him go immediately soft as he brushed his fingers through his hair and said," Listen," Whats all this about Lavanya!

"Nothing! I said what the whole pf Mumbai knows! We read magazines...gossip...you know?" Khushi chose to be dense !She had already made mother of all blunders and no more! If something happened and Akhil lost his buddy, she would rot in hell for taking away her brothers only best pal!

"Er... in... matters of..." khsuhi could not breathe with him up so close...leave talking!

"Matters of... OhhO! I am not elaborating Arnav and I don't want to talk about this! Look if Akhil knows, he will skin me alive! So lets go..." She put the blame on her brother and tried to wriggle out of the situation.

"No we are not going anywhere before you tell me who is it that you got burnt with!" Arnav surprised her by making his statement.

Khushi had had enough! First of all she was gittery with his nearness and on top of that he started his inquisition and she felt very vulnerable and became defensive!

"That's personal Arnav... thanks for asking but I do not wish to share!...its..." She paused and...

"Painful" He completed for her!

She looked at him and saw his eyes assessing her!

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