Thank you so much for the wonderful comments on the previous chapter. 🤗 I wanted to reply to each one of them but could not. 😔
This chapter is dedicated to my behen, Sadhana(Sadh123) who had asked me to write something for her on Raksha Bandhan, a date with Saket. I hope you like it behen. 😳
Chapter 7
Hello Diary,
I am exhausted today after a long day. I took three hours of classes and then the seminar. However, my concentration seemed to be somewhere else and not on the seminar which was mainly for students. While Professor Rao was explaining curves drawn on the board, my thoughts drifted towards another curve, the various types of curves that his lips formed when he smiled, smirked, pouted or laughed.
Gosh! Why do my eyes notice so much about him? Why does my heart beat so fast when he is near me? And why can't the stupid butterflies find some other place and leave my stomach in peace?
The early morning meetings have become frequent; twice a week (smart Raizada!) and strangely, I look forward to these small meets. He is affecting me and I know he is affected by me. Where will this lead me to? Sigh!
I should sleep now before I go mad trying to find answers to these questions.
P.S. I like his ruffled messy morning hair.
**********
Arnav had been meeting Khushi twice a week for three weeks. To avoid questions regarding why he went for a morning jog suddenly, he had stated that he wanted to exercise in fresh air some days and decided to go for morning jogs twice a week only. He didn't miss the mischievous smile that Payal gave whenever he returned from jog. Did she know why exactly I go for jog? He thought.
He was extremely glad that Khushi had started getting comfortable around him. She even joked and teased him sometimes, something he had not imagined to happen a few months back during Akash's wedding. However, he still was apprehensive how to take this forward. He had noticed her eyes sparkle and her smile broaden every time he met her in the morning. Did she really wait for him? He mused.
He needed to take another step forward and see if she reciprocated. She might reject him again and then they would be back to square one at the maximum. He had to take that risk and so he decided that he would ask her out the next morning when they meet. With these thoughts running over his head, Arnav Singh Raizada fell asleep.
**********
She was waiting for him outside Starbucks since the last ten minutes and she hated waiting. He knew that very well yet he was late again. "Hi", she heard his sweet voice and felt his warm breaths near her left ear. She turned around only to meet the chocolate orbs and the dazzling white teeth peeking out whenever he smiled. All her anger flew out of the window and she could only reply "Hi" with an equally smiling face.
She was meeting him after one whole month. She had missed him so much.
"I know I am ten minutes late and you are angry with me but will this Cadbury Silk help in cooling your anger a bit? Please Sadh?"
"May be", she said and took the chocolate bar from her hand, "but I am famished. Now, can we go inside Saket?"
"After you, my lady", Saket said and both of them entered Starbucks.
Knowing her favourites already, Saket ordered hot chocolate and Mediterranean Focaccia with Roast vegetables for Sadhana and a caramel mocha for himself.
Sadhana Sinha was a student of the National Law University of Delhi and Saket's girlfriend for the last one and half years. They had met during an inter college fest two years back where Saket was mesmerised by the beauty and the mellifluous voice of Sadhana. He was hosting the singing competition and had congratulated her on her win that night along with praises for her singing. That was their first conversation. They had hit off instantly with her amicable nature and his word power. Meetings continued even after the fest and eventually Saket had proposed her after six months.
"So, how was Bangalore?" Saket asked while sipping his mocha.
"It was good. I enjoyed a lot," she replied and then she went on with her banter about how she spent one month in her home town.
"That is great but I missed you a lot", he said with a pout. "You do know that I missed you equally, if not more", she replied back making him happy and his answering grin was a proof for that.
"You were telling something about not being scolded by your sister that day when you came to drop me to the airport," she said. It was the same day when Saket had taken the car early morning leaving Khushi with the task of delivering the gift to Payal.
"Oh, yes. She behaved out of character that day. In fact, I am observing that she is behaving a bit strangely since that day. She smiles a lot nowadays, and sometimes she is lost in totally another world. Just yesterday, I ate jalebis from her plate while she was busy texting. She didn't even notice it. Earlier she used to create such a drama if I took just half a piece. I am guessing that she is seeing someone but just not getting the right evidence."
"Is he the one that your sister is seeing?" Sadhana asked eyeing the two persons sitting at the right corner of the cafe.
Saket turned around to look at the direction Sadhana was pointing to and found her sister Khushi laughing and the person sitting opposite her was Arnav.
"Sadh, you are an absolute genius. I love you so much, baby." He said excitedly and pecked her cheeks.
"Jeez! Stop jumping and shouting Saket or they will know that you are watching," she said rubbing her cheeks.
"Oops! Sorry. I need to inform Jiji now," he replied and grinned.
**********
Arnav Singh Raizada entered the Raizada Mansion humming his favourite tune.
"Someone is very happy it seems", teased Payal.
"Yes I am," he said smiling.
"Zara hamein bhi toh bataiyye kis baat ki itni Khushi hai aapko?" she asked stressing on the word "Khushi". ("What made you so happy?")
"Just a good day", he said and rushed to his room avoiding further teases.
He still could not believe that he had taken Khushi out on a date. When he had gone for his morning jog, he had very nervously asked Khushi if she would like to go out for coffee. However, he had been completely bowled by her twisted reply, "Why do I feel you are asking me out for a date?"
He knew that very instant that she would not refuse this time and had decided to play along.
"If I say that your feeling is right, will you reject the offer this time too?"
She had laughed remembering their encounter at the book store and had said "yes" making Arnav sigh in relief.
He had picked her up from her college and had headed towards Starbucks. Dressed in lain yellow salwar-kameez, he still found her taking his breath away. An awkward silence had prevailed between them during their short journey but he was glad that Khushi had broken the silence first.
"How many girlfriends did you have?" She had asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious. Girls must be throwing themselves on you since they should find you handsome and attractive."
"What about you?" He asked instead of replying to her question.
"What about me?" She said shrugging her shoulders.
"Do you find me "handsome and attractive"?" he had asked and could not help but smirk at the appearance of tinge of red on her cheeks. So, Khushi Gupta knew how to blush. He thought.
"So, how did the seminar go, Miss Proffie?" He had asked trying to ease the situation.
"Stop it Arnav. I told you not to call me so. The seminar was boring and stupid", she had said.
Miss Proffie was the new name that he had given her just because he loved seeing her irritated.
His reverie was broken when he was called for dinner.
**********
Hello Diary,
What do I write? I JUST HAD THE FIRST DATE OF MY LIFE WITH ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA!
I am still smiling like a fool and my jaw is hurting. I have never smiled this much in my whole life. What has this man done to me?
I love silence. However, today the silence in the car was killing me. I wanted him to talk. And so I blurted out the question about him having girlfriends but instead I found myself blushing at his question. I got caught. However, he had then replied to my question. He had had girlfriends in college but he wasn't serious. Do I need to tell you that I was happy hearing that?
He again called me by that stupid name."Miss Proffie". God knows how people come up with these names. First Khu baby and now Miss Proffie.
He asked me about the seminar. I said it was boring. Well, I could not tell him the truth. I did not listen to it a bit since I was dreaming how our date would be! I could not even take my classes properly. Hell, I almost made grave mistake while solving an equation.
He took extra sugar in his cappuccino. Now I know how such extra sweet words come out from his mouth.
A few minutes later, I found myself turning into a mush when he leaned forward to wipe the stain of froth from the corner of my lips. I was lost in his caramel ocean and could hear the loud "Dhak Dhak" in my heart while the butterflies were dancing in glory, when his thumb brushed against my lips. As he removed his thumb, I released my breath which I had held for God knows how long.
Hell I can still feel his thumb and I can't write more.
P.S. Does he always "dress to kill"? Do I still need to mention his dress? He should change his wardrobe if he wants to see me alive. Humph!
**********
This is where I leave you today.
Hope you like this update.
Let me know what you think of it through your likes and comments.
Edited by barsha_dash - 9 years ago
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Anupamaa
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
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