ARNAV KHUSHI FF: We Didn't Start the Fire! Chapter 4 Updated 26/11 pg4 - Page 3

Originally posted by: Nohealani

interesting ..
continue soon

Originally posted by: Nohealani

interesting ..
continue soon

Originally posted by: Anarocksick

Lovely update!
Love the friendship between the two. Stupid Arnav...friendzonig Khushi. And Amit is so cheesy man!
Waiting to see what happens next.
And girl, do keep writing and updating regularly. Readers would come around... And you've already got some pretty good ones :D

Cheers!

Originally posted by: hajr

Beautiful update

Love it

Poor she is falling for Arnav but he lives Lavaya.

Will Arnav find out one day?

Can't wait for next chapter

Originally posted by: diyathediva

Great update... u r a very talented writer...dont lose hope... see u r getting comments and likes... waiting for next update and pls do pm me

Tum tho gayab ho gayi :(

Originally posted by: -Reader-

Tum tho gayab ho gayi :(

Nahin, had to visit some family this weekend and had absolutely no time to convert the skeleton of a chapter into a finished product. Working on it today, and will be up by tomorrow latest! Sorry!

Xx

Hey guys!! I know I am late, but this chapter had to be completely re-done, and I have changed it completely! Plus submissions, and I had no time to breathe! But it is a long one- so here it is :)

Tell me what you think!!

CHAPTER 4: The Past and the Present

Loud ringing woke her up from a fitful sleep. "KHUSHIII! Why do you sound like you are still asleep? Oh my god this girl is mental! GET UP. Now! Get dressed! Did you forget about school?"

Groaning, she glanced at the clock and almost had a heart attack. Memories of yesterday flashed through her head, and she suddenly realised why she had called Arnav.

"Oh f**k!" Leaping out of bed, she jumped straight into the shower.

The hot water and rich lather of her jasmine scented body wash gave her time and space to contemplate on the happenings of the previous day. Without letting her mind wander, she jumped out of the shower, and opened her wardrobe, trying to decide on what was formal enough for making her seem dignified, in control and older than her twenty-five years.

She took a deep breath, calming herself as she stared at the mirror. It wasn't going to be easy. At twenty-four, she had a degree from Cambridge, the best university in the world, and was on her way to becoming one of the brightest young minds in the corporate crisis management industry. The countless seminars and speeches she had given all over the world weren't enough to prepare her for one simple thing: being chief guest at her school's annual young leaders programme function. She didn't have it in herself to go back to where everything started. And what was worse, she could not face him. With a Harvard education under his belt, that smug, arrogant ass was the other chief guest, and the current source of her being a nervous wreck.

One day ago:

...As a young achiever in all senses, and one of the biggest sources of pride for Carmel Weston High School, you are cordially invited to inspire our future leaders as a chief guest at the annual young leaders' award programme. Please find attached the programme agenda..."

Her joy at being called one of the biggest sources of pride by the school that made her who she was, that she owed everything she had today to, was unmatched. No amount of fat paycheques, international recognition and felicitations made up for the happiness that filled her heart at being asked to come back to school as a chief guest for one of the most time-honoured traditions at Carmel Weston. Eyes shining and heart singing, she quickly skimmed through the programme agenda, and almost missed it.

Arnav Singh Raizada.

His name.

Still managed to evoke the same reaction in her mind as it did two years ago.

Her heart crashing into her stomach, she felt a dull pain overtake her senses, before she decided to take control and make it better for herself.

Fervently praying that he hadn't changed his number in the past twelve months, she took deep gulping breaths before the husky "Hello" made the carefully prepared speech in her head fly out of the window.

"Arnav, it's me."

"What do I owe this absolute pleasure to, Miss Khushi Kumari Gupta?"

She sighed in relief. He recognized her. Surely things cant go that badly. "You recognised my voice."

"You may not know it, but my memory is impeccable as always. And your voice is one I am not likely to forget in a hurry. Not saying that you should remember my voice though, I mean I understand that there must be many men in your life right now. Don't mind me, I'm joking."

And there it was, as always. A sharp barb thrown at her, in the guise of dry, sarcastic humour. She rapidly felt herself break into a million pieces. Before she lost her composure, she decided to plough through. "Plough through and hang up Khushi" she reminded herself.

"Look, I do not want to rehash the past. I got the invite from school, and also got the message about the reunion party later tomorrow night. I just wanted to break the ice and say that let's not be awkward around each other tomorrow, Arnav. Let's be cordial at least, if not friendly."

That had unleashed it. His famous temper.

"Cordial? YOU are asking ME to be cordial? It is best you get one thing clear Khushi Kumari Gupta, I have wasted enough time to get you to be cordial to me. And I would appreciate it if you don't insult whatever friendship we might have had by even suggesting that we could be friendly towards each other. And one more thing, I will be there at school tomorrow. Also at the party, since I do have friends I need to catch up with. How you deal with my presence is none of my concern."

This had been the last straw, and the conversation had descended into insults, abuses and accusations hurled at each other, untli the caustic "Well done, Khushi Gupta, you finally excel in something" made her hang up in distress.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she gave herself a once over. Satisfied with her teal blue cotton dress, she threw on a black blazer and some black pumps, and walked out of the door, summoning all the strength she had.

It was good to be home. Memories from what felt like a lifetime ago flashed before her eyes as she met the teachers who had painstakingly supported her through every joy or sorrow, whether big or small. Confidently walking to the stage, she looked out to the sea of bright, eager faces, a small smile on her own face as she recalled the time she was one of these young, innocent students who were ready to take on the world.

It was with great difficulty that he averted his gaze from her face, lit up by her beautiful smile. She always smiled with her eyes, he mused. It was natural, with her huge eyes that made up about 1/5^th of her face. Laughing at himself for the thought from years ago that came into his mind, unbidden, he moved forward, before her sparkling hazel pools came to rest on him. Snapping out of his reverie, he strode forward purposefully, taking his seat on the stage.

She had noticed him enter the auditorium. He was still the same, with his floppy lock of hair always escaping his vigorous efforts to tame it with copious amounts of hair gel. The thought almost made her laugh while her gaze floated to his, until he noticed her looking at him. Dark, stormy brown stared back and clashed with her, before he looked away and strode purposefully to the stage. Putting wayward thoughts aside, she too straightened herself, and focused on the programme. After a herculean three hours, her shoulders sagged in relief, and she looked around, proud at both of them for successfully being able to ignore each other for the better part of the ceremony. She could do this, she thought.

Khushi looked wildly around, momentarily disorientated by the flashing disco lights, swaying bodies and her own dizziness. Those tequila shots were definitely not a good idea, especially when she had barely been able to keep any food down in her nervousness at the possibility of seeing him in a social setting that night. He had, as always, taken her breath away. She smiled slowly, shrugging at the coincidence of their song playing at the exact time her thoughts had taken a turn towards him. Hugging herself to bring some warmth into her body, she looked up, and his intense gaze on her took her breath away. Helpless against their magnetic pull, an unknown force seemed to pull her towards the familiar pools, wanting nothing more than to drown in them this instant. It was strange, she mused. He seemed to be walking towards her, too, as if hypnotized. The lights had dimmed, and couples strayed onto the floor. His cool, minty breath washed over her, while his hands slowly trailed a fiery path up her arm. She stared up at him, unable to look away, transfixed. She really needed to fix that lock of hair that always flopped on to his forehead, and unbeknownst to her, her arm reached out to push his hair away. That broke the trance, and his resistance. "Oh my god what am I doing?" was the last coherent thought in her head before his warm, soft lips took over, transporting them to a world that was so familiar, but every bit as as potent as their first time.

Her head throbbed, and she reached out for some water, mentally berating herself the thousandth time since she had woken up that morning. Funny how this happened every time, she thought and grimaced.

"Hey"

She turned around at his sleepy voice, and almost did a double take. At twenty-two, Arnav Singh Raizada was an incredibly handsome boy. At twenty-six, he was a drop-dead gorgeous man. Who had just woken up, and was standing in the same room as her. In his boxers. And who had seen her naked. Her face flamed, and he smirked, but stopped himself before commenting on the familiar blush that flamed her face every time he seemed to be around.

Completely nonchalant, he strode forward, got himself some water and walked off to shower, ignoring her shocked face.

Fury overcame her at his lack of acknowledgement at the happenings of the night before, clouding coherent thought. She decided to wait for him to come out of the shower before confronting him.

"Look Arnav.."

"Khushi, look, this always happens. I was drunk, you were drunk. You could have been any girl at the club, and I would have got with her. Don't worry yourself over it. We cool."

"We cool? WE COOL? Are you f**king hearing yourself Raizada?"

"What? This isn't the first time this has happened, is it? And I didn't see you complaining after last time either." His indifferent shrug broke the dam building up inside her, and she walked out of his apartment before he could see her tears of rage, regret and heartbreak.

Another time flashed before her eyes.

Five years ago. Di's birthday. Dim lights. Too much wine, someone trying to dance with her. His firm grip as he hauled her into his arms, away from that guy. His warm lips on her, as she feebly protested. "But Khushi, you broke up with him. I am still in love with you." And then fire. Everywhere his lips travelled. His muttered "god, you're so sexy" groans. Splintering apart into thousands of sensations in his arms, and he caressed her with a thousand reassurances whispered into her ears. And the same indifference the next morning. "Oh come on, Khushi, I know you just broke up with him. But seriously, when has any boyfriend of yours ever affected the friendship between us?"

"Friendship? You call this friendship? Do you sleep with all your friends then, Raizada? Please do tell me, because it seems like I can't recognise this new Arnav since you've gone to Uni!"

"Khushi, your boyfriends have always had stupid issues with me. Remember Amit? When did he matter to you anyway? And this random guy you're shouting to me about, I have never even met him! How the hell does he matter to what happened last night? You broke up with him. You're single, I am single. We got drunk and made out. That is it. Stop making it into a big deal!"

Disappointed, devastated and angry, she had stormed out of his house, promising herself to never become this vulnerable before someone she once called her closest friend.

Present day

The familiar walk home calmed her somewhat, as she thought about what had happened, unwittingly breaking into a smile, and then full blown laughter at memories of Amit and Arnav.

9 years ago: 2008

It had been a week since she was Amit's "official girlfriend", and it seemed to get worse by the day. She had let Amit know, in no uncertain terms, that she was not interested in him. "But why can't you like me, Khushi?" he had asked, trying to imitate the "puppy dog" look Arnav often tried on her. Controlling her urge to slap him and copyright that look in Arnav's name, Khushi had just let out a breath. "That's because, Amit, I like someone else."

That had been a mistake.

Funny how she seemed to be making mistakes left right and centre after Arnav had entered her life. Shaking her head at her idiocy, she racked her brains trying to figure out who's name she should take, Arnav's of course, being definitely out of question.

Uttering a silent prayer for forgiveness, and apologising inwardly, she cringed and said "Dhruv- isn't it obvious? The whole school knows."

Her desperate attempt at being rude enough for Amit to take the hint and get away from her of no avail, she stalked off to find Arnav, wanting solace in the dal makhani in his lunch box so lovingly prepared especially for her by aunty.

"Here! Sometimes I think my mom likes you more than me. So much for being the "mama's boy. Really Khushi , I think at this rate, you will have to change your name from Khushi Kumari Gupta to Khushi Singh Raizada in a few days."

Ruffling her hair and throwing her hair band up in the hair, he walked away, pecking Lavanya on her cheek on his way.

"Look Khushi, I don't like you being so close to Arnav. He has a girlfriend you know."

"Amit, can't you just see I am doing you a favour by going out with you and leave it at that? Stop acting like a real boyfriend, for god's sake!"

This had been Amit's fourth question in a week about her and Arnav, since he had heard Arnav saying Khushi Singh Raizada by the staircase that day. She couldn't tolerate any more.

"Arnav, I've had enough! I am breaking up with him."

"But Khushi, what's wrong? Tell me. Stop acting like this. We have hardly spoken about what made you take this decision. Is this how you the love of your life?"

"Love of my life? Oh please! And if you want to know, then here it is. HE THINKS WE ARE GOING OUT! Satisfied? Now let me go get rid of this weight around my neck."

And then she saw it. The dimpled smile she had been missing since she had started going out with Amit. It flustered her, and as she saw his face brighten, she walked away before that tell-tale patch of red gave her feelings away.

"Hey listen, I'm sorry. I can't go out with you anymore." With that, she turned around and walked towards Arnav, who was waiting for her with a seemingly victorious smile on his face.

"Ow Khushi, stop hitting me! I'm hurt already"

"Don't you dare Ow Khushi me, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada! What were you thinking, getting your nose broken in school like this? Do you have the remotest idea of how it embarrassing it was when someone came in running saying Oh Khushi! Arnav is fighting for you and has got his nose broken'? What WAS all that??"

"Nothing, I just..."

"You just what? And don't look at me, look down! Don't you dare try that puppy dog face on me! You are not getting out of this one!"

"Nothing really. After you walked off, I just went and congratulated Amit, and then he punched me on my nose. Now seriously, tell me, what did I do?" he asked her with a perfectly straight face, his hazel eyes twinkling in mischief like never before. Khushi smiled, and pushing him aside, walked home without a backward glance.

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As always, comments, likes welcome :)

Lots of loves

S

xx

So they are sleeping together randomly.. Why is that ... Can't he commit.. Or he don't see her as girlfriend but can sleep with her and be happy when her friendship broke with Amit .. Strange

What's Arnav's problem here? He is clearly more into than he's admitting to. He told her he loved her which yes could be something a friend says but then goes on to kiss her?! Then he seems to be happy when she broke up with Amit even though he suggested that she should date him. Something isn't right.

Even at the school reunion. He blames it on them being drunk but I don't think so. I really wanna know what happened between them and what he really feels for her.