Arshi FF: Love Me Forever LINK #2 pg 153 dt. 21.5.15 - Page 15

Arnav and aman came back home late in the evening. Arnav was pleasantly surprised to see daadi sitting at the dining table. She rarely stepped out of her room, as much as he wanted her to move around the house but she mostly confined herself to the bed. He too didn't force her because of her health but today he was happy to see her having dinner with payal at the dining table. She called him out " chotte, aman come we were waiting for you." Both of them joined the table at once, it had been ages since all of them had shared a meal together.

Daadi could see the glow in her Arnav's eyes , she knew he wanted to know how all this happened but was hesitant as always so she told him on her own while sipping her vegetable soup," I know you seem to be surprised. And let me tell you this is all because of khushi. In the evening she took me out for a walk in the lawn and then insisted that I should eat with everyone. The whole day she was running around me."

His lips curved into a faint smile on hearing all this, he was glad that his grandmother was taking tiny little initiatives to lead a normal life. A smile on her face always managed to brighten his day and a part of his heart silently thanked khushi for that because the words sorry and thank you found difficulty in escaping his lips.

Seeing the dinner table well laid out Aman couldn't control himself and started uncovering the dishes quickly " wow boss, tonight all the dishes are of your choice." Arnav glanced at the dishes and nodded his head in affirmation.

Payal informed them happily " and not to forget khushi bhabhi has cooked everything as per your liking. Extra spicy you see ." she smiled at her brother who didn't care to smile back. It pricked her but she couldn't complain. She deserved his coldness. There was a time when he couldn't bear to see a tear in his little sister's eyes. He enjoyed her chirpiness but now things were different. Though she tried a lot to show how badly she regretted her selfish acts and did her best to normalize their relationship but Arnav preferred to keep his emotions guarded. She pressed her lips together and stared at the plate before her. She wouldn't give up. One day she'd definitely win back her brother's love.

Arnav tasted the food quietly, indeed everything was made perfectly according to his taste, after a very long time he had something so delicious he wanted to admit. Just then khushi came out of the kitchen bringing khichdi for daadi . Payal knowing well that her reserved brother would never appreciate anything openly spoke on his behalf " bhai, you're so lucky. Since morning you're having food made by bhabhi. I can still taste the breakfast. It was yum, wasn't it?"

Arnav for the first time in the evening looked at khushi, she was busy wiping her daadi's mouth with a napkin and then served her the khichdi. All this appreciation didn't seem to affect her, she was dealing with Daadi so freely as if she had been taking care of her since long.

He then remembered his morning behavior with her, she had offered him breakfast and he had arrogantly refused to have it without bothering about the effort she must have put in while making it.

Daadi caught him staring at khushi and thought that khushi's small gestures were leaving a big impact on her rough and tough grandson. She smiled inwardly at her thought then suggested " Khushi bitiya, come sit with us and eat."

Khushi nodded her head and walked slowly toward Arnav , she then pulled the chair next to him carefully and sat down quietly. He tried hard to show through his body language that her presence didn't affect him but his eyes conveyed exactly the opposite.

She served herself with daal and other vegetables then raised her hand to pick the chapatti when her hand brushed with his, he too had extended his hand to take another one and now both were holding the same chapatti. Both looked at each other for a moment then she dropped her gaze and moved her hand back allowing him to take the chapatti. He kept the one he was holding in her plate silently and took the other one.

She began having the food when slowly her eyes became watery, face red, lips burning and she started to sniffle. Daadi on seeing her like this got worried and asked " khushi bitiya what's wrong? Why is your face turning red?" The spices were burning her throat and she replied breathlessly "the food is too spicy for me." Arnav annoyed at her for having made spicy food which she herself couldn't have turned his neck sharply toward her and said " when you can't have chillies then what was the need to add them?" then pushed the glass of water in front of her. She took the glass immediately and gulped down the entire content in one go then refilled it thinking she might need it in future considering the food was still quite spicy.

" chotte, she cooked especially for you and you're scolding her." daadi said trying to defend khushi then looked at her lovingly and advised her " next time take out a portion for yourself and then add extra spices to the remaining dish ."

Khushi nodded her head and then thought now what should she do? She just couldn't have that spicy food.

He noticed her not having anything so gave her a bowl of curd and said softly " have this curd, it will cut down the spice." She took the bowl and gave him a small smile. Daadi saw their interaction and thought that her granddaughters had broken his heart in the most cruel manner that now it was difficult for anybody to make a place in his heart but she had faith in khushi she would slowly and steadily fix his broken heart.

Her thoughts got interrupted with the ringing of Aman's cell phone " what is this Aman, why is your phone always ringing?" She asked with irritation clearly visible in her voice. Aman gave her an apologetic look and then read the name flashing " daadi, it's the dealer. He wishes to have another round of talks tomorrow." He replied to daadi then took the call " yeah Sharma tell me when is the meeting? No, no not early morning ..i can't afford to disturb boss every morning. He'll eat me alive." And playfully peered at Arnav. Aman was his childhood friend and now his associate. He was extremely close to Arnav and knew him inside out. He was the only one who could dare pull Arnav's leg and get away with it.

Aman then lifted his eyebrow asking Arnav when to fix the meeting and Arnav said " tomorrow 5 in the evening." Aman nodded his head and informed the caller " boss is saying tomorrow 5 in the evening. No, not so late at night. Oh god Sharma try and understand, boss is now a married man, he has more important things to handle at nights." Saying so he winked at Arnav and then disconnected the call.

Khushi was totally embarrassed on hearing this while Arnav choked on the food he was having and began coughing hard. Daadi at once asked him to have water, khushi hurriedly poured water in a fresh glass but saw him already having the one she had kept it for herself and said in surprise " this is my jhootha ."

Payal giggled on hearing this," so what bhabhi, having each others jhootha will only increase your love." Aman began laughing and Arnav glared at both Aman and payal in irritation, even the minutest possibility of love creeping into their relationship disturbed him.

Khushi lowered her eyes shyly and left the place.

Aman was about to say something when Arnav pursed his lips tightly and warned " not a word more aman. Just shut up and eat." Everyone present looked down to suppress their laughter.

Arnav went back to his room, he had to study the file relating to the meeting. He sat on his recliner and began going through the papers but his mind was elsewhere, the events that took place after his marriage kept him preoccupied. He looked at his room, in one day it had changed so much now he was no longer alone he had someone to share it by "it" he only meant his room and not his life. His house now looked like a home, how could one person change so much and that too so soon?

That was something way beyond his belief, if she could infuse life in these lifeless things could she do the same with him too?

"NO" his mind told him loudly, changing Arnav Singh Raizada was not possible, he had built a strong wall around himself which no one could pass through. He would never allow anybody to get close to him and hurt him again, more over he had brought her in this house for a purpose which when fulfilled would open the gates for her exit, so his mind calmed him down and said don't worry about her, she was there just for a year then she would leave. His broken heart chuckled at his thoughts, "one year" was a pretty long time if in one day she managed to evoke strange feelings within him then what would happen a year later?

He was lost in his thoughts when the papers of his file flew here and there, he glanced at the poolside door and saw it open. Who had left it open when it was raining so heavily? He walked to close the door. He was about to shut it when he saw her getting wet in the rain and twirling around with her arms wide open.

She loved getting wet in the rain, though garima would often stop her fearing she might fall sick but she still managed to sneak out when she was not around and now there was no stopping, she was a free bird here.

It was dark outside and suddenly lightning struck in the sky as a result for a fraction of a second her face got illuminated. She was smiling and looking angelic, for a moment he couldn't believe what he was witnessing. She jumped on the water that had collected then kicked it with her foot like a child and then all of a sudden she stopped ,her back was facing him and she could feel his intense gaze on her. She knew he was watching her making the hair on her nape rise because of his presence. She turned around and found him leaning on the door with his arms crossed in front of his chest. His gaze pierced through her body making her conscious of the fact that she was totally drenched. She swallowed the lump down her throat and covered herself with her arms.

He smiled inwardly on knowing the effect he was having on her and continued to stare at her. She walked back to the room slowly, his gaze not leaving her for a second making her all the more nervous, she tried to get past him in a hurry as a result slipped and caught hold of his shoulders to balance herself, he wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.

She wanted to but didn't dare to look into his eyes she kept her head lowered when the clouds roared and lightning struck hard scaring her and she buried her head in his chest. A while back he was enjoying her awkwardness, he knew his presence was making her jittery but now her close proximity was making his heart pound rapidly inside his chest, she could feel his muscles tightened with her touch and the next moment he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. With her arms around his neck he placed her carefully on the bed, she loosened her hold on him and this time couldn't stop herself from looking into his jet black eyes which were penetrating her soul. She raised her hand to close them before they made her more perplexed. Her fingers came down slowly from his eyes caressing his face gently and halted on his lips, he kissed her finger tips softly thereby turning her scarlet. He lowered his head and nuzzled her neck, she moved her fingers through his hair and whispered " Arnav ji" in joy. Her other arm went around his back as both got lost in each other.

***************************************

She woke up early in the morning as it was ganesh chaturthi , birthday of lord ganesha which is celebrated over a period of 10 days and on the 11^th day the idol of lord ganesha is immersed at a beach. She had lots of work to do besides preparing breakfast for the family, she made laddoos and modaks ( a sweet dumpling made of fresh coconut and jaggery while the shell is of rice flour, it happens to be the favorite food of lord ganesha) then decorated the huge idol with flowers. She lit a lamp before him and said a silent prayer asking bappa to fulfill her husband's long cherished wish. She did His aarti and offered Him the sweets then went to daadi's room to seek her blessings.

Arnav was all ready after taking the bath and was having the breakfast she had sent for him. He was enjoying the stuffed prathas with curd and pickle like a small child, relishing each and every bite. He regretted refusing to have breakfast the other day, her hands had some magic everything tasted so divine. He was busy finishing the meal when she entered with the pooja plate to offer him the aarti. She was pleased to see him having what she had made and the way his fingers were covered with curd and pickle she could make out the extent to which he was savoring the food. She quietly stood before him with the plate of aarti, he glanced at his dirty hands and raised an eye brow thinking what a mess he had made. She understood his awkwardness and asked softly " Shall I?" he blinked his eyes and nodded his head lightly. She made a red tilak on his forehead with her finger then brushed her hand over the diya to his eyes and head gently three times. She picked up a modak and placed it before his lips hesitantly he opened his mouth and had it silently.

She then moved back and smiled at him, he stood up and twisted his lips in response. Her smile was infectious he thought before leaving for the washroom to clean his hands.

Thank you for reading

Rose