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Chapter 9
"Haan, Ma. I am fine. I had my dinner. I won't work till late night. Okay. Good night," Khushi disconnected the call. This was her daily routine from the past one and half months. She was in Chennai attending a workshop-cum-conference at the Chennai Mathematical Institute along with four other colleagues and thirty students.
This was not the first time that she was away from Delhi but there was something new and something very different from the other times. The usually calm Khushi Gupta was restless. She yearned to hear the voice of someone and his gorgeous smile. Yes. Khushi Gupta was yearning for Arnav Singh Raizada.
She took her blue diary and flipped through the pages reading about her meetings with Arnav right from the day of Payal and Akash's engagement. It was only solace these days. She opened the page where she had drawn her unique doodle about her senses and her heart condition whenever she met Arnav and laughed at her own childishness.
She flipped a few more pages and stopped at another page.
Hello Diary,
How dare he call me bhukkad? I had just five plates of golgappa and had one plate of chaat parcelled for myself along with another for Saket. But that doesn't mean he will call me bhukkad. Hmph! He can't even finish one plate of golgappa. Obviously I had a fight with him.
I wanted to stay angry with him forever. But this man won't let me be, will he? The very next moment, as I sat in the passenger seat fiddling with the seat belt (I was carrying two food parcels), Raizada comes to my rescue. His face was just some inches away from me, his cologne invading my senses making me almost numb. And then he asks, "Tum theek ho?"
Nahi, main bilkul theek nahi hoon. How can I be fine when you are so close to me, dammit?
God! This man will be the death of me some day.
P.S. He smells... good.
Khushi closed her eyes and took a deep breath trying to remember the smell of his cologne right now. She let out a deep sigh and continued reading her diary entries. She went back in time reminiscing her last meet with Arnav on Diwali.
Hello Diary,
So many things happened today. I am so exhausted yet I am writing now because I know I won't be able to sleep till I write down everything.
Diwali is always hectic. And this time, we had to visit the Raizadas. Not that I am complaining but it became more hectic this year. I had to help Ma in Puja here and then leave for Raizada Mansion. It was Jiji's first Diwali after her marriage. She was just so excited about it. She even gifted me a red chiffon saree to wear tonight. I did not want to wear it but Jiji can be so persuasive sometimes. Sigh! I had to give in to her demands. But I think I did a huge mistake wearing that saree tonight. At least my heart would be in a much better condition.
The Raizadas are absolutely gorgeous people, especially Dadi. She is such a sweetheart. It was fun celebrating Diwali with them. Till now, it was only Saket, Jiji and me but now our extended family members made this Diwali quite a memorable one. Anjali Di makes such beautiful rangoli. I was just awed by the rangoli designs and I learned to make some too.
I would lie if I say that I did not want to meet and talk to him ever since he started calling me bhukkad whenever I eat. Hell, I was getting desperate to meet him. But I guess Raizada had some other plans. He is such a tease these days. God knows what fun he gets by riling me up. And stupid me! This Raizada brings out the worst in me and makes me annoyed. He just knows how to push the wrong buttons and then he does something that my resolve to stay angry with him vanishes in thin air.
I made an excuse to light diyas near the poolside (I just love that place.). Okay, I wanted to catch a glimpse of him just for the sake of my sanity. We had arrived for over an hour and he had not come down to meet us. He was getting ready. Huh! Itna time toh hum ladkiyan bhi nahi lete taiyyar hone ke liye. Moreover, even if he wore casuals, he would look equally handsome. But now I know, it was a totally bad idea, actually worst idea.
I was placing the lighted diyas along the edge of the poolside occasionally stealing glances at the glass door adjacent to the poolside hoping to find him. But this Raizada was nowhere to be seen. I even finished decorating the entire poolside. I decided to join others in the living room, when I heard his voice. "Looking for me?" he asked. I was so startled by his sudden appearance (since I was lost thinking where he was) that when I turned to look at him, I almost tripped and was about to fall in the pool. He was quick enough to hold me. He pulled me towards him and I had no other option but to catch him by his shoulder. It seemed as if I was in some Hindi television serial or some Bollywood movie.
"Gosh! You scared me. What if I had fallen in the pool?" I lashed at him. "I wouldn't have let you fall", he said coolly. His voice sounded sexy. That is when I looked at him. He was looking delicious (I would like to call him that since I am short of words to describe his look). His hair perfectly gelled, and again a BLUE sherwani. He was planning to kill me for sure.
I was drowning in his molten caramel orbs that I forgot that I was still in his hold. His light caress on my cheeks made the butterflies in my stomach go all frenzy. "Do you know how beautiful you are looking in this saree, that too in my favourite color?" (I was definitely in some Hindi serial). He started caressing my lower lip with his finger. I felt some unknown sensations build up within me. I closed my eyes immediately not able to withstand his scorching gaze. "I want to kiss you so badly right now", his finger had stopped at the centre of my lip and my breath had stopped too, "but...I won't."
He released me immediately and I snapped my eyed open. "Come to the living room soon. Everyone must be waiting", he said and left smirking.
I stood there frozen for few minutes trying to comprehend what had just happened and also trying to calm down my racing heart which was beating at such a rate that it would put Usain Bolt to shame.
When I reached the living room, I found him telling Jiji that he had not seen me and that he didn't know where I was. Liar! After the stunt he had pulled this evening, it has become difficult for me to meet his eyes which had mischief glinting in them.
What was I thinking? Why did being in his arms feel so right? Did I want him to kiss me? At that moment, yes. These feelings are so new to me.
Gosh! I wrote four pages and that too as if I am writing a story. And still I am not sleepy. Damn this Raizada.
Khushi opened a new page in her diary and started writing.
Hello Diary,
It is said that distance makes hearts grow fonder. Now I know why. In these 46 days of my stay in Chennai, I have realised one thing. I miss Arnav too much and I want to be with him. I talk to him almost daily yet there is a yearning to meet him and spend time with him.
If this longing or yearning is what love is, then I have fallen in love with Arnav.
Khushi closed her diary. She checked her phone for one last time. There wasn't any text from Arnav. It was time she let him know what she felt. She quickly typed a message "Good Night. I miss you." And hit the send option. She had finally admitted to herself that she was in love and she would confess the same to Arnav as soon as she reached Delhi. It was just a matter of few days.
**********
If Khushi was restless staying away from Arnav, then Arnav was no better. In fact his condition was worse than Khushi. Sleep eluded him since the Diwali night. What the hell was he thinking? He was almost going to kiss her. Seeing Khushi in that red saree, he had lost his self-control. The way Khushi closed her eyes, he knew she would not have minded but then he did not want to rush things and so he regained his self-control at the right moment. He had seen her eyes rounding in shock when he had said that he would not kiss her and that confirmed that she wanted it as much as him. But he decided to wait. He wanted to talk to her about the attraction that was visible between them.
However, he did not get the time or opportunity to talk to her face to face. Two days after Diwali, she had informed him that she was leaving for Chennai for two months. They had definitely talked over calls and texts but Arnav had not once mentioned anything about the Diwali incident. He decided to give her time to clear her mind.
In these one and half months, he had been given more responsibilities to handle in office. After a hectic day at office, he wanted to speak to Khushi. Her voice was enough to remove all his tiredness.
He was staring at her picture set as his wallpaper when he heard a knock and Payal's voice, "May I come in, Arnav?"
"Of course, Bhabhi", he said.
"Is there anything wrong, Bhabhi?" He asked seeing her in his room so late.
"Yes, there is. Something is wrong with you", she said calmly, "and Khushi", she added after a pause.
"Me? There is nothing wrong with me, Bhabhi", he said confused.
"Do you think I did not notice what is going on between you and Khushi?"
This was completely a shock for Arnav. "Oh come on, Arnav. You don't have to act so shocked. It is clearly visible from the way both of you behave. I know Khushi. She won't admit so easily that she has feelings for you. At least, you admit that. Do you love her, Arnav?" Payal asked with a straight face.
Arnav let out a sigh and said, "Yes, I do. I love her, Bhabhi." He was afraid that Payal would scold him but her next question totally baffled him.
"So when are you planning to propose her?" Payal asked gleefully.
"Bhabhi? Are you really asking me when I am going to propose your sister?"
"Yes."
"And you are excited about that?"
"Oh yes! I was waiting since so long waiting to hear the good news that both of you have confessed but then I should have known. Khushi is an introvert. She usually doesn't let others know what she feels. You have to give her the push. I thought you would take the chance and confess but you are not doing anything. So, I decided to intervene. Otherwise, both of you will take ages to start your love story. Arnav, I know what you are thinking. You are scared that Khushi might reject you. But trust me. I know her since she was a baby. Her eyes speak everything. And I have seen that feeling for you in her eyes. You may ask why I am telling you all these. That is because I know that you are the right person for her. And so as her sister and your Bhabhi, I am asking you take the risk and confess your feelings. Everything will be just fine."
Payal placed her palm on his, assuring him about everything that she said. Arnav smiled. Just then, he received the text message from Khushi.
"Good Night. I miss you."
His smile widened. He had asked her several times whether she missed him but she would always avoid the topic or not reply. Though she had not replied in negative, the response wasn't positive either. However, this one text confirmed that she missed him.
He looked and Payal and said, "Thank you, Bhabhi. I will let Khushi know about my feelings, soon."
"You are most welcome, my dear brother-in-law. Just let me know from when I should start the marriage preparations." She winked at him and left the room.
Arnav shook her head grinning thinking about Payal's excitement. He decided to reply to Khushi's message and sent,
"I miss you, too."
**********
Note: The first two diary entries have been written before Khushi went to Chennai while the last entry is the one she wrote at present.
With this, we are left with just one chapter.😃 You can very well guess what that will have.
A big thank you to those who Liked and commented on the previous chapter and for being extremely patient for the update.😳🤗
I have started a new OS series: Seasons Of Romance
Do let me know what you feel.
Happy Diwali!😃
Chapter 10
Edited by barsha_dash - 9 years ago
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Hindi TV Shows
Indian Mythology
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Marathi TV
Cricket
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