Arhi SS : Chemistry #1 [ Completed ] - Page 48

Arhi SS : Chemistry - Part 6

Khushi sat in a secluded area of the upscale restaurant called Aer, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Worli. Arnav's friend owned it and hence, despite being a busy Saturday night, they had got some much-needed privacy. After making sure Khushi was comfortably seated, Arnav walked towards the bar, to have a word with his friend. He placed an order for what he knew of Khushi's favourite dishes, and instructed the waiters to leave them alone for sometime, before serving the food.

When he walked back towards their table, he saw Khushi lost in a world of her own... gazing at the vast city of Mumbai, twinkling in all its dark glory. She looked so young... so lost. His heart went out to her, admiring her for braving the tragedy she was going through. He knew it wasn't easy for her to face NK and Lavanya together. A girl who had dreamed of her life with a man, seeing him with another woman could never be easy.

He walked towards her languorously, taking his time, making up his mind on how to broach the uncomfortable topic. He wasn't sure if she would open upto him... especially after the last whole week of feigning ignorance. They weren't so close, that she could bare her soul to him. Yet, he knew she needed someone to talk to today. Talking... would make her feel lighter. It would relieve her from the burden of carrying her inner turmoil within her heart. For a fraction of a second, he wondered if he should make a quick call to Sheetal, calling her to deal with Khushi. However, he thought against it, the very next minute. Even though Khushi and Sheetal were best friends, he knew Sheetal well enough. She wasn't one of the warmest peoples in the world and was sure to taunt and get nasty if need be.

He had taken a seat at the table and yet Khushi had not stirred. Her gaze remained focused on nothing in particular. He wasn't sure if she even knew he was there. She looked so beautiful. Her long lustrous hair sashaying in the air... the green dress complimenting the colour of her eyes. She had no clue about the emotions she stirred within him. Seeing her standing in front of NK, had his heart leaping out of his mouth. He could not comprehend why, but he had the urge to rush towards her and protect her from any kind of hurt.

In such a short span of time, the ownership he felt towards her was startling yet comforting. For once he felt the need to be there for someone, other than his father and grandmother. She seemed so lost and unhappy... unlike her name. Her dazzling smile was a must for her personality and he wowed to put it back on her angelic face. He was about to call out to her, when he heard her hoarse whisper... "It was never meant to be, you know."

Without turning to look at him, she kept staring at the skyline and said dejectedly, "I knew it from the beginning that what I felt for NK was nothing more than pure friendship. I had tried telling my parents... I had tried talking to NK about it. Everyone had told me to give this relationship a chance... some time to bloom from friendship to love. Yet it never happened and cost me my dearest friend." Arnav listened to her quietly, thinking it better to let her vent her pent-up emotions.

He felt sad for this strong, beautiful girl, who had been unsure of her feelings then and was unsure of her reactions now. He felt slightly jealous of NK, for the way Khushi thought so highly of him. He also felt pity for NK, for having given up on the most beautiful woman in the world. Most beautiful woman? Really? When had he started thinking on those lines? Here she was so sad about whatever happened in her life and he was thinking about how he could make her an important part of his? He needed help!!

Arnav was broken out of his trance as she continued, "I am truly happy for him, you know. Lavanya is a nice girl and he seems so happy with her... so much in love. I think I have never seen him like this with me... ever! I don't understand this emotion of love... how for the person in love it means the world and for the rest of the world it means mere insanity. Have you even been in love, Arnav?" She turned around to look at him, directly in the eye... a genuine question clouding her eyes, without a hint of any other meaning to it.

The look in her eyes, hit him hard in the gut. She looked so vulnerable and scared, almost like a lost child, wondering what went wrong in her world. What was this strong urge that he felt for taking her in his arms... comforting her... consoling her... cheering her... lov.. Stop! Don't venture into dangerous territories. He shook his head in denial and said, "No Khushi, I have never been in love..." ...till now, his heart finished the incomplete sentence.

He sat speechless as she wiped away the sad tears from her eyes and said, "I am sorry for bothering you with all of this Arnav. But it has really been a while since I have spoken to anyone this openly. Maa and Papa are so worried about me that I do not bother to tell them anything relating to NK. Sheetal is judgmental of every word I say and is critical about my way of thinking." He saw her fidgeting nervously, embarrassed of the fact that he has seen her in such a helpless state.

Moving forward, he held her hand that lay limply on the table and said earnestly, "Khushi... I am glad that you opened up to no one else but me. It just shows that you trust me enough with your deepest feelings and I am glad to be there for you... always. Don't ever apologize. I understand what you must be going through seeing NK and Lavanya together, today. It is natural to feel sad at seeing yourself being replaced by someone..."

She cut him short and said frustratingly, "That is just it Arnav... I am not feeling sad seeing them together. I am genuinely happy for them. I am sad that NK feels guilty enough, to keep his distance from me. He feels guilty of hurting me and hence has been feigning ignorance for that last few months. I know he cares too much and that is the reason to avoid me from hurting, he has been keeping away. However, he does not realize that staying away from me, just hurts me so damn much."

Arnav smiled at the ranting agitated child in her and replied, "That is it! All you need to do is meet NK and tell him all of this. You guys seem to be unhappier for losing your friendship than anything else. So I am sure things will work out fine with time... as long as you don't turn into the negative jilted lover Gabbar... trying to break NK and Lavanya's relationship." Arnav tried to humor the tense situation, getting successful, seeing a stunning smile bloom on Khushi's face.

"Very funny! You know I have to live upto my villainous name. It's a good idea to scheme and plot... don't you think? It will add the much required spice to my life story," Khushi joked, now visibly relaxing in her seat. Seeing the spark coming back into her eyes, Arnav felt thrilled to have been the reason for it. Why did her happiness matter to him so much? He felt as if they had taken long strides forward in their friendship... in the last few minutes. It had diminished the awkwardness, replacing it with warmth and sheer comfort.

"Well for now forget about the spice in your life and lets see how good the spices in food here are," saying that, Arnav signaled the waiter to serve them Khushi's favourite food. He was happy to see her eyes dancing at the sight of the various dishes and he felt thrilled when she dug into her plate with great enthusiasm. She was back! Back to her crazy self... innocent and gorgeous. His eyes remained busy admiring the fervor with which she devoured the food... just like his eyes devoured her smiles. They ate quietly, the comfortable silence filling in for unnecessary words.

It was an hour later, that Arnav dropped Khushi below the Gupta residence building. As she unstrapped her seatbelt and got out, he himself got out of the car and walked to her side. "Khushi... hmmm... I just wanted to say, that never feel lonely. I am there for you... if ever you need to talk or vent out your anger. Don't hesitate to talk to me... ever," Arnav said sincerely, wanting to be there for Khushi in her worrisome times. Seeing those big, fat, ugly tears in her eyes, had hurt him as well. She looked good when she was confident, spunky and happy. It defined her as a person that he had come to admire.

He saw an array of emotions flit across her outspoken eyes. They always spoke to him about what she felt. A few seconds of silence and then he felt her weight crashing into his body. His hands moved at record speed to gather her into his arms. She fit so perfectly there... her warmth engulfing him. He wondered how it was possible to feel such longing for a woman he had met two weeks ago. He ran his hands over her back, soothing her... sharing some of his strength and support.

If it was possible, she buried herself more into his arms, molding her soft body against his hard one. He tightened his arms around her, burying his face into her luscious hair... breathing in the mild floral fragrance emanating from it. She was so soft, so feminine and felt so good in his arms. He felt her nuzzling her head against his neck and he sucked in a deep breath, at the feeling she was stirring in him. Had she no clue as to how insane she was driving him with her actions?

A few moments later, he felt her stiffen in his arms as if finally realizing the position they were in. She withdrew immediately and he grudgingly let her. Her fragrance lingered around him and he immediately missed the warmth that had surrounded him a moment ago. The cold wind swirled around them, as he saw Khushi draw random patterns on the ground with her toe. Even in the dark he could see her flushed face, lowered eyelashes and embarrassed stance.

Putting her out of misery he said, "You don't need to feel embarrassed Gabbar. It happens! I just want to know if you are ok?" She looked up at him, stunning him with her beauty yet again. The soft streetlight, added a glow to her luminous face. Even after the running down of her eyeliner and washing away of the makeup, she looked pure and beautiful. Stop ogling at her, you fool! It is Saturday again and don't do something, that you will regret for the next whole week... his heart chided.

"I am fine Arnav and I can't tell you how grateful I am, that you were there for me today. It means a lot to me," she said so sincerely, that he fell like pulling her in for another hug. Controlling this strong urges that were driving him insane, he simply teased, "Anytime Khushi. Now go before we do something that will ruin the happy ending on this Saturday. I can deal with a crying and wailing Khushi... the helpless woman who needs a savior. But I can't deal with a strict, no nonsense, cold and frightening Gabbar... who had ruined my sleep, last whole week."

She giggled at his craziness and replied devilishly, "Ha ha ha!! You think Thakur is one up on this Gabbar?" He laughed freely as she named him as her nemesis and said, "Well that is what I thought until now... unless you are ready to prove me wrong. Let me see you being the knight in shining armor and rescuing the, poor, helpless ASR." He made a very sorry face, making her giggle at his antics. The tension of the night was long forgotten, as they stood in the car park, unaware of time and their surroundings.

"You just wait and watch Thakur! You will be the one begging me for help one day. Then we will see who is one up!" Khushi said confidently, raising her head in the air, making him smile at her drama. As she turned to leave, he turned around himself, mumbling only for his own ears... "Can't wait to see Khushi. That is how I like you... one up on me!" Shaking his head at his own delirious thoughts, Arnav severed the car out of the parking, onto the empty streets of Mumbai.

x------------------------------------------------x

"Bro! You are finally home. Where had you been? I have been waiting for you for over an hour. Nani said you should have been back, a while ago. I did not call you, thinking I might just interrupt your date... if you were on one," Akash teased, the moment Arnav stepped into his huge duplex. Groaning in frustration at his cousin, Arnav plopped onto the sofa, removing his jacket. The servant walked in with two steaming mugs of coffee and he was thankful for his presence of mind.

After an eventful evening, it was the best way to relax and unwind, with a mug of black coffee and his cousin's senseless or actually too logical chatter. Akash was his only close cousin come friend, who Arnav was regularly in touch with. The other group of friends would only occasionally hangout, with Arnav being extremely occupied with work. Despite Akash being a couple of years younger to Arnav, he was more mature and intellectual. His engineer's brain worked like a machine and as Arnav always teased him, he had gulped "practicality" as syrup in childhood.

"Looks like the date was interesting enough for you to daydream about the girl," Akash teased Arnav, who was busy sipping his coffee. "I wasn't dreaming of Khushi, Akash. I was merely thin..." Arnav was cut midsentence by an excited Akash who said, "Ooo... Khushi! I like the name bro. Happiness is something you truly deserve. So, wasn't this like your second date with Khushi, if I am not mistaken? So she did manage to forgive you after that pressing matters fiasco!!" Akash guffawed with laughter, which irked Arnav even more.

"Shut up Akash! Don't make me regret telling you stuff from work. It's a habit that I might just discontinue... if you continue to tease me with such idiotic remarks," Arnav bit out angrily. Akash held up is hands in air, in a gesture of surrendering and said, "Woah! Calm down bro... what is up with you? I was simply asking you about tonight. Was it a date with Khushi?" Sighing in resignation, Arnav knew Akash was a lost cause and there was no point hiding things from him. He always got things his way. Without wasting any more time, Arnav told Akash about everything that had transpired between NK and Khushi, the restaurant chat and the car park scene.

"Hmm... is Khushi ok, bhai? I feel so sorry for her. I hope things workout for her soon and she finds a handsome, rich guy, who will keep her as happy as her name is," Akash said earnestly to which Arnav cocked his eyebrow and asked, "Are you hinting something?" Giving a short laugh Akash continued, "Well, to be frank I don't mind this equation... but I am not too sure of your chemistry bhai... Oil and water never really mix well you know. And she being such a sweet innocent girl... and you being such an arrogant brute, I have my doubts."

Arnav picked up a cushion from the sofa and threw it at Akash, missing the perfect aim, with Akash ducking at the last minute. The boys continued to chat and bicker, like long lost friends. The easy companionship was a proof of the bond that these two shared. It was not very often you got to see such bromance, where the younger brother, despite teasing and taunting, almost worshipped his older brother. The pride, with which Akash looked up to Arnav, was something that would make anyone jealous of their relationship.

After Akash had retired for the day, Arnav sat by the French windows in his room, looking at the dark sky, littered with a few stars. Soft music playing in the background, Arnav felt at peace. Thinking about the eventful day today, his mind scattered at the thought of Khushi. The way she had trusted him enough, to bare her heart... the way she had hugged him and the way she blushed after. He smiled as the blushing face of Khushi flashed across his eyes.

In barely two weeks, he had touched her, befriended her, kissed her and seen a part of her soul. How was it possible that her mere presence, wiped out every other thought from his head? How could she rule over not only his mind, but body as well? He was attracted to her, no doubt. But it wasn't purely physical... she had more to it. She was a stunning beauty with brilliant brains. This craving to be with someone he had never felt for anyone... and he felt a little wary thinking about the way she was affecting him.

He could not let the defenses around his heart crumble... he could not let his heart beat for someone, other than himself. Love... love only ended in loneliness and tragedy. He had to control these strong urges and keep a tab over his erratic mind. Keeping a distance from Khushi, was the most sensible thing to do. It would keep things at work less complicated and also save him from any disaster. Making up his mind to act on these thoughts, Arnav fell into a deep slumber, only to dream of pulling a soft pliant body into the warmth of his arms.

Part 7